Street Formation
Heroiv Maidanu Street in Lviv, located in the Frankivskyi district, has a rich history that reflects the city’s political and social transformations.
The street was laid out in the 1890s and was initially named Parkgasse, as it passed by a wooded area that is now Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Park. In 1901, it was renamed Kadecka Street because it led to the Cadet School, which is now the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy. In 1938, part of the street was renamed Peowiaków Street in honor of the Polish Military Organization (POW), which took part in the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918–1919. In 1940, the street was renamed after Ernst Thälmann, a German communist. During the German occupation in 1941, it was renamed Beskidenstrasse, after the Beskydy mountain range in the Carpathians. In 1944, it became Hvardiyska Street. On April 10, 2014, to honor those who died during the Revolution of Dignity, the Lviv City Council renamed it Heroiv Maidanu (Heroes of the Maidan) Street.
The street is known for its architectural diversity. For instance, building No. 4, erected in 1906 to a design by Karol Skawiński, is an example of picturesque historicism with Neo-Gothic elements. Building No. 5, constructed in 1938 by Jakub Menker, represents the Functionalist style. Of special note is building No. 6, known as the “House with the Owls,” built in 1902 by Izydor Slivinskyi. Its façade is adorned with sculptures of gargoyles, griffins, and owls, created by Antoni Popiel. From 1908 to 1914, Józef Piłsudski lived in this house.
Today, Heroiv Maidanu Street retains its residential character and is part of Lviv’s historic core. It blends architectural heritage with modern urban life, remaining an important part of the city environment.
Architects and Style
Building No. 4 on Heroiv Maidanu Street is a three-story tenement house, built in 1906 to a design by architect Karol Skawiński for Henryk Osuchowski. The building is located on the corner with Brativ Tymoshenkiv Street and is a fine example of picturesque historicism with Neo-Gothic features.
Who Was the Owner?
The plot was originally owned by Michał and Kazimiera Gross, who had planned to build a villa in the Neo-Baroque style designed by Kazimierz Żechecki. However, the project was never realized, and the land was purchased by Henryk Osuchowski. The tenement project was prepared by Karol Skawiński, who was married to Aniela, likely Osuchowski’s daughter. Construction faced difficulties due to high groundwater levels, which required drainage of the basement.
After Osuchowski, the building was acquired by Baron Albert Brückmann and his wife Evelina. In 1911, a fire broke out in the building, leading to reconstruction works, including the removal of unauthorized attic apartments and the installation of fireproof doors. During the interwar period, the building’s façade and stairwells suffered damage, and the city repeatedly demanded repairs from owners Evelina and Stanisława Brückmann.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building has an asymmetrical façade with Neo-Gothic elements, including pointed windows, decorative loggias, and balconies. The façade is enriched with stucco and ornamental details typical of the picturesque (pittoresque) style. On the second floor, a commemorative plaque in honor of Franciszek Smolka remains visible.
Interesting Facts
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Before the current structure, the site was occupied by a Neoclassical building erected in 1840 by Wilhelm Schmid for the pharmacist Petro Mikoliasz.
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Until 1899, the previous house was home to Franciszek Smolka — a Polish politician and President of the Austrian Parliament.
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In the early 20th century, the new building housed a bookstore and a stationery warehouse run by Adolf Blatt.
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During the interwar period, the building hosted the Chamber of Labor.
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In 1941, the former Chamber of Labor became the temporary residence of the Ukrainian State Administration headed by Yaroslav Stetsko.
What’s There Now?
As of 2025, building No. 4 retains its residential function. The ground floor accommodates commercial establishments, including a pub-restaurant. The building is listed in the Register of Local Architectural Monuments.
Sources
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State Archive of the Lviv Region (DALO), fond 2/2, file 2280.
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Lewicki, Jakub. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv in the Years 1893–1918. (Warsaw: Neriton Publishing, Society for the Protection of Monuments, 2005), p. 590.
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Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv (Lemberg, 1913).
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Address Book of Małopolska. List of Buildings in the City of Lviv (Lviv, Stanisławów, Tarnopol, 1935–1936).
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Index of the Royal Capital City of Lviv (Lemberg, 1910).
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Index of the Royal Capital City of Lviv (Lemberg, 1916).