Residential Building

Formation of the Street

Ivan Verkhratskyi Street is located in the Lychakivskyi district of Lviv, connecting Patriarch Dymytrii Yarema and Chernihivska Streets. Its formation began in the early 20th century. Initially, the street was known as Hofman’s Side Street. In 1905, it was renamed Holomba Street, in honor of architect Andrzej Hołomb, who designed most of the buildings on this street. During the German occupation, the street was called Röntgengasse. In 1946, it was renamed to honor Ivan Verkhratskyi — a Ukrainian linguist, naturalist, and public figure.

The architectural development of the street is notable for its unity, as many buildings were designed by Andrzej Hołomb himself. Construction began in 1899 and progressed in two phases. By 1903, the odd-numbered side of the street had been developed in the eclectic style. After Hołomb’s death, construction continued on the even-numbered side, where late Secession (Art Nouveau) predominates.

Architects and Styles

Building No. 12 is a three-story tenement built in 1910 in the late Secession style. The façade features decorative elements characteristic of this style, including stucco ornamentation and wrought-iron balconies. The building has retained its authentic architectural elements, which contribute to its historical value.

Who Was the Owner?

Historical data about the original owners of Building No. 12 is limited. During the interwar period, the building was likely used as a residential property, with apartments on the upper floors and commercial premises on the ground floor. In the Soviet era, it may have housed state institutions or been used entirely for housing. Today, the building contains both apartments and office spaces.

What Does the Building Look Like?

The building is three stories tall with a symmetrical façade. The windows are framed with decorative moldings, and the balconies have wrought-iron railings. The façade is painted in light tones, giving the structure a refined and elegant appearance.

Interesting Facts

Building No. 12 is listed as a monument of local architectural significance under protection number 4145-Lv, in accordance with Decision No. 280 of the Executive Committee of the Lviv Regional Council dated May 21, 1991.
Ivan Verkhratskyi Street has several other buildings included in the Register of Local Architectural Monuments.

What Is There Now?

Today, Building No. 12 on Ivan Verkhratskyi Street serves both residential and commercial purposes. The ground floor contains office spaces, while the upper floors are residential apartments. The building has preserved its historical architecture and is part of Lviv’s cultural heritage.

Bibliography

Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. XIII–XXI centuries / Ed. by M. Bevz, Yu. Biryulov et al. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
Biryulov, Yu. Lviv: Architecture of the Late 19th – Early 20th Century. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2010.
Lemko, I., Mykhalyk, V. 1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009). — Lviv: Apriori, 2009.
Lewicki, J. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv 1893–1918. — Warsaw: Neriton, 2005.
Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv, 1932. — Lviv: Mutual Aid Society Publishing, 1932.