Michał Hawling House
Address: 6 Stepan Vasylkivskyi Street, Lviv
History of the Street
Stepan Vasylkivskyi Street was laid out in the early twentieth century during the rapid development of Lviv’s southwestern residential districts. The area was planned as an elegant neighbourhood of villas and small apartment houses, reflecting the transition from Historicism to Art Nouveau. Architects increasingly embraced asymmetrical compositions, flowing forms, and refined decorative details. House No. 6 was built in 1907–1908 as part of this cohesive architectural ensemble.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was commissioned for Michał Hawling, after whom it is traditionally named. No reliable archival sources have yet revealed details about his profession or public activities. The house was privately owned and designed as a residential building, accommodating both the owner and tenants.
Architectural Features
The Michał Hawling House is a characteristic example of Lviv residential Art Nouveau. Its restrained yet elegant composition is distinguished by an asymmetrical façade with a projecting bay, sculptural stucco decoration, and refined floral ornamentation. The façade features the flowing lines, decorative cartouches, and stylised plant motifs typical of the Art Nouveau movement. Large window openings provide abundant natural light, while the balanced proportions allow the building to blend harmoniously into the surrounding historic streetscape. Despite its modest scale, it represents a valuable example of Lviv’s early twentieth-century residential architecture.
Interesting Facts
- The house was constructed in 1907–1908, during the peak of the Art Nouveau movement in Lviv.
- It forms part of the historic streetscape of Stepan Vasylkivskyi Street, where several early twentieth-century residential buildings have survived.
- Unlike the large rental apartment blocks found in the city centre, the Hawling House has a more intimate, villa-like character, reflecting the planning principles of Lviv’s emerging residential suburbs at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Today
The building continues to serve its original purpose as a residential house. It remains an important element of the historic urban fabric and is one of the well-preserved examples of Lviv’s Art Nouveau residential architecture from the early twentieth century.