Development of the Street
Present-day Stepan Bandera Street is one of the principal avenues in western Lviv. It developed from an old road connecting the historic city centre with the route to Przemyśl. In the mid-nineteenth century the street was known as Novyi Svit (New World), and in 1886 it was renamed Sapieha Street in honour of Leon Sapieha, Marshal of the Galician Diet. From that time onward it became one of Lviv’s most prestigious residential streets, lined with apartment houses, villas, and public buildings. During the early twentieth century, Art Nouveau became the dominant architectural style, giving the street much of the appearance it retains today.
House No. 61 was constructed between 1905 and 1907 as part of this new residential development. Together with the neighbouring building at No. 59, it forms a unified architectural ensemble designed by its owner.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was the private revenue house of Kaspar Julian Draniewicz (1867–1939), a Lviv architect, sculptor, and master builder. After studying at the Lviv School of Arts and Crafts, he established his own construction company and designed numerous residential buildings throughout the city. His apartment houses at 59 and 61 Sapieha Street are among his best-known works. House No. 61 was designed in collaboration with architect Ivan Winiaż. Today the building is protected as a local architectural monument (Protection No. 4056-Lv).
What Does the Building Look Like?
The four-storey apartment house is an outstanding example of Lviv Art Nouveau. Its asymmetrical façade is richly decorated with floral stucco ornamentation, mascarons, stylised botanical motifs, and elegant wrought-iron balconies. Strong vertical accents, flowing lines, and expressive sculptural decoration are characteristic features of mature Lviv Secession architecture. The building successfully combines artistic richness with the practical planning typical of early twentieth-century apartment houses.
Interesting Facts
Houses No. 59 and No. 61 were conceived as a single architectural composition by Kaspar Julian Draniewicz. They are among the few examples in Lviv where the architect simultaneously acted as designer, sculptor responsible for the decorative programme, and property owner. The richly ornamented façade of No. 61 is regarded as one of the finest examples of residential Art Nouveau architecture along present-day Stepan Bandera Street.
What Is It Used for Today?
The building continues to serve its original residential purpose. Commercial premises occupy the ground floor, while the upper floors remain residential. More than a century after its construction, the house remains an important component of the historic streetscape of Stepan Bandera Street and is protected as a local architectural monument.