Formation of the Street
Marko Vovchka Street is located in Lviv’s Zaliznychnyi district, in a historical suburb that began to actively develop at the end of the 19th century due to the construction of the railway station and the expansion of urban infrastructure to the west of the city center. The area was formerly part of the village of Klepariv and began to be incorporated into the city’s residential fabric in the late 1800s. Early buildings were primarily housing for railway workers and small entrepreneurs, later evolving into homes for the middle class.
In 1898, the street was named Hedwiggasse in honor of Polish Queen Jadwiga, reflecting the imperial tradition of naming urban features after royal figures. During the interwar period, the name remained unchanged. Under German occupation, the name persisted in its German form. In December 1944, the Soviet authorities renamed it after Ukrainian writer Mariia Vilinska, known by her pen name Marko Vovchok, as part of their toponymic Ukrainization policy.
The street’s development features predominantly three- and four-story tenement houses built between the late 19th century and the first third of the 20th century, showcasing styles such as Neo-Renaissance, Neoclassicism, Secession, and Constructivism. The area was convenient for residents due to its proximity to the market, tram lines, the railway station, and its relative closeness to the city center, attracting craftsmen, intellectuals, and well-off townspeople.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 31 was constructed during the interwar period, likely in the 1920s. Its architecture reflects a transition from Neoclassicism to Constructivism. The three-story building has a symmetrical façade and tall, rectangular windows — typical of the restrained urban residential architecture of Lviv in the 1920s–30s.
Who was the owner?
During the interwar years, the building housed a private pharmacy named after Queen Jadwiga, owned by Henryk Messuta, a well-known Lviv entrepreneur of Polish descent. After World War II, the property was nationalized by the Soviet authorities and converted into communal apartments.
What does the building look like?
The structure has retained its original form. The façade is plastered in a light color, with rectangular windows and minimal decorative detailing. The ground floor features large storefront windows, indicating its original commercial use. Balconies have simple metal railings. The main entrance retains its original wooden doors with frosted glass insets.
Interesting Facts
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In the 1920s, the building was home to the Queen Jadwiga Pharmacy, well-known among locals.
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The pharmacy’s name continued to appear in some directories even after its closure during the Soviet period.
What is here now?
Today, Building No. 31 is residential. The ground floor houses Aralia Pharmacy No. 32, which provides ready-made medicinal forms.
References
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Ilko Lemko, V. Mykhalyk, H. Behliarov. 1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009). — Lviv: Apriori, 2009.
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S. Hromov. Names of Prominent People in Lviv’s Streets. — Lviv: NVF “Ukrainian Technologies”, 2001.
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B. V. Melnyk. Index of Modern Names of Lviv’s Streets and Squares. — Lviv: Svit, 2001.