Formation of the Street
Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street is one of the oldest in Lviv. Originally, it was part of the Zhovkva road, a medieval trade route that connected Lviv with Volhynia and Kyiv. The area known as Pidzamche developed along this route, inhabited by craftsmen, merchants, and Jewish communities.
In the 19th century, the street was transformed into a key urban axis, with paved roads, multi-story tenement houses, industrial buildings, and public services. It was known as Zhovkivska Street until 1944, when it was renamed after Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this segment of the street was redeveloped with Secession and early Modernist buildings, forming a consistent urban fabric suited to the middle class.
2. About the Building at 5 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St.
Builders and Style
The building was constructed in 1912–1913 by Adolf Piller, a prominent architect of the Lviv Secession movement. It is a four-story rental house, designed in the style of rational Modernism with restrained decorative elements.
The facade is symmetrical and functional, with rhythmic window placement, modest stucco decoration, arched entrance, and iron balconies. The design emphasizes utility with visual elegance.
Who Was the Owner?
The house was built as an income property for middle-class tenants. It was likely commissioned by a private investor or a small development firm. Before WWII, it housed civil servants, teachers, and merchants. In Soviet times, the building was nationalized. Today, most apartments are privately owned.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building has four floors and a raised basement, a mansard roof, and simple yet refined façade decoration. The entrance features an arched portal, and the windows are evenly aligned. Some original interior elements may still survive, such as terrazzo flooring and wrought-iron railings.
Interesting Facts
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Piller also designed nearby houses at Nos. 7 and 9, forming a cohesive stylistic ensemble.
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This building exemplifies the transition from decorative Secession to functional Modernism.
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A courtyard scene in a Soviet film was shot here in the 1970s.
What Is There Now?
Today the building remains residential, with possible commercial units on the ground floor. Its general condition is good, though some façade elements require restoration. It lies within Lviv’s protected historic zone, though it is not individually listed.
Bibliography
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Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Secession and Modernism
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Melnyk I. Lviv’s Streets and Tenement Houses
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Vuytsyk V. Architectural Ensembles of Lviv
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Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv