Formation of the Street
Shota Rustaveli Street is located in the Halytskyi district of Lviv. It stretches from Zelena Street to the intersection with Ivana Franka and Stryiska Streets. Originally, since 1863, the street was named Yablonovskyi in honor of Polish Hetman Stanisław Jabłonowski, who in 1695 liberated Lviv from the Tatars and had an estate and palace here. From 1871 to 1944, the street was called Yablonovskykh. In November 1941, during the German occupation, it was renamed Karpatensstraße. In June 1944, the name Yablonovskykh was restored. The current name, honoring the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, was adopted in December 1944.
The street’s development features styles of Classicism, Viennese Secession, and Constructivism. The majority of buildings are listed in the Register of Local Architectural Monuments.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 20 on Shota Rustaveli Street was constructed in 1906–1907, designed by architect Alfred Zachariewicz. The building is executed in the Secession style, characteristic of the early 20th century. The facade is adorned with stucco and decorative elements, giving the building an elegant appearance.
Who was the owner?
Historical sources do not provide detailed information about the original owner of Building No. 20. However, it is known that the building was a rental tenement house, leased to city residents. After nationalization during the Soviet period, the building became state property and was divided into separate apartments.
What does the building look like?
The building has three floors with an attic, a symmetrical facade with decorative elements, and tall windows. The facade is decorated with stucco, and the balconies have wrought-iron railings. The entrance doors are wooden with carvings. In the inner courtyard, fragments of old paving stones and utility outbuildings have been preserved.
Interesting Facts
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Building No. 20 is part of the architectural ensemble of Shota Rustaveli Street, where Secession-style buildings, constructed in the early 20th century, predominate.
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In 2021, a unique entrance with incredible stucco and exquisite gate details, characteristic of early 20th-century architecture, was restored in one of the buildings on Shota Rustaveli Street.
What is here now?
Currently, the building at 20 Shota Rustaveli Street is residential. The ground floor houses several private offices and shops.
References
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Ilko Lemko, V. Mykhalyk, H. Behliarov. 1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009). — Lviv: Apriori, 2009.
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
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Shota Rustaveli Street (Lviv) — Wikipedia.