Formation of the Street
General Chuprynka Street is one of the key historical thoroughfares in the western part of Lviv. It formed as part of the integration of the Kastelivka suburb into the city during the second half of the 19th century. Initially, the area was semi-rural, with orchards and villas.
By the 1870s–1880s, following the railway expansion, the area evolved into a prestigious residential neighborhood. The street, originally named Batoregasse, became its main axis. In the interwar period, it was renamed 29 Listopada, during Soviet times — Kleparivska, and in the 1990s it received its current name in honor of General Taras Chuprynka (Roman Shukhevych).
The street reflects the stylistic diversity of early 20th-century Lviv — with Secession, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Romantic, and Rationalist Modernism styles. Renowned architects such as Ivan Levynskyi, Tadeusz Obmiński, and Alfred Zachariewicz worked on its buildings.
About the Building at 11a General Chuprynka St.
Builders and Styles
The building was constructed in 1906–1907 by Tadeusz Obmiński and Oleksandr Lushpynskyi, working in Ivan Levynskyi’s architectural bureau. It is a three-story building with a U-shaped plan, three main façades, a corner bay window, and a steep roofline with dormers.
The style is folk-inspired Secession, using traditional motifs in a modern architectural language.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was commissioned by Józef Skwarczyński, who lived in it. Some units were likely rented to others, as was common in early 20th-century Lviv.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The structure features three floors, a dynamic roofline, a corner oriel, and decorated portals. The façade uses brick, stucco, and decorative ceramics, with floral and geometric motifs. Interior features may include terrazzo floors, wood stairs, and ceiling stucco.
Interesting Facts
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This is one of the best-preserved examples of folk-style Art Nouveau in Lviv.
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Both architects were professors at the Lviv Polytechnic Institute.
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The building is part of the Kastelivka ensemble, an integrated urban design zone.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building is residential, with some ground-floor commercial spaces. It is in good condition and listed as a local architectural heritage site.
Bibliography
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Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Times and Styles
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Melnyk I. Lviv’s Streets and Tenement Houses
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Vuytsyk V. Architectural Ensembles of Lviv