Formation of the Street
Novyi Svit Street is located in the historic district of Lviv, which began to take shape in the first half of the 19th century. The name “Novyi Svit” (meaning “New World”) first appeared on city plans from that period. Initially, it denoted a road connecting the Sokilnytska Road to Horodotska Street. In 1898, it was named Krzyżowa boczna (Cross Side Street), and in 1905, it was officially renamed Novyi Svit. The street’s development was dominated by styles of historicism and Art Nouveau (Secession), which give it a distinctive architectural character.
Information about the Building at Novyi Svit Street, 3
Builders and Styles
The building at 3 Novyi Svit Street was constructed between 1910 and 1912 by order of Stanisław Stawik. The architectural design was created by Józef Delkiewicz, and the facade was developed by Antoni Jaruszewicz. The house is designed in a late Art Nouveau style with Neo-Classical decorative elements. A notable feature is the unique ceiling mural on the second floor depicting a girl with a guitar against a golden background.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner of the house was Stanisław Stawik. Today, the building is privately owned and used as a residential dwelling.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The facade is modest, featuring a reserved entrance portal. A key feature is the ceiling mural on the second floor, which depicts a girl with a guitar on a golden backdrop. Inside the entrance hall, authentic wooden doors have been preserved, along with massive stone and wood handrails, and a large, structured window that nearly reaches a patterned tile floor.
The building is three stories tall, double-tract in plan, with a gable roof and an L-shaped layout. According to blueprints approved by the magistrate in 1910–1911, the main facade is 20 meters wide, the floor heights on levels I–III are 3.4 meters, and the basement ceiling height is 2.85 meters. The house stands on a sloped lot, which allowed the courtyard wing (oficyna) to be constructed as a four-story structure.
The plot’s regular shape allowed for rooms that are rectangular or square. The main entrance zone is aligned on the building’s central axis and consists of a portal, a vestibule with stairs leading to a stairwell. The main stairwell is double-flight, set in a rectangle with beveled corners, and its volume protrudes from the rear facade. From the stairwell landings, one can access gallery balconies that connect to the flats in the rear wing. At the end of this wing, an additional double-flight “black” staircase is located.
Interesting Facts
The building has retained its original early 20th-century interior, a rarity in modern-day Lviv.
Just beneath the attic, there is a porthole-style window that adds a special charm to the building.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building at 3 Novyi Svit Street functions as a residential property. It remains part of Lviv’s historic urban fabric and continues to preserve the city’s architectural heritage.
Literature
-
“Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. XIII–XXI centuries” / M. Bevz, Yu. Biryulov et al. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
-
“Encyclopedia of Lviv” / Edited by A. Kozytskyi and I. Pidkova. — Lviv: Lytopys, 2007–2010.
-
Ilko Lemko, V. Mykhalyk, H. Behliarov. “1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009)”. — Lviv: Apriori, 2009.