1. Formation of the Street
Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, formerly known as Zhovkivska Road, is one of the oldest streets in Lviv, dating back to medieval times. It served as the main northern route from the city to Zhovkva, Belz, and Warsaw. In the 19th century, the street was urbanized, becoming a residential and industrial artery.
The area around No. 26 began to develop at the end of the 19th century, when railway infrastructure and worker housing were being built. This section of the city became a transitional zone between the industrial Pidzamche and more residential quarters, with modern tenement houses, villas, and modest apartment blocks.
2. About the Building at 26 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St.
Builders and Styles
This three-story tenement building was constructed in 1904–1905 by architect Julian Cybulski, who also owned the property. It represents the Viennese Secession (Art Nouveau) style with a richly decorated façade featuring mascarons, garlands, floral reliefs, and iron balconies.
The sculptural decoration was executed by Bronisław Sołtys, a prominent Lviv sculptor. Their collaboration resulted in an expressive, harmonious design — a model example of artistic residential architecture in early 20th-century Lviv.
Who Was the Owner?
Julian Cybulski was both the architect and owner. He designed this house as part of a personal architectural ensemble, including neighboring buildings No. 28 and No. 30. In the interwar period, Volodymyr Shylan, a Ukrainian poet and painter, lived in this house — a sign of the building’s cultural and intellectual atmosphere.
After World War II, the property was nationalized and later privatized.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building is three stories tall with a high basement, and features an asymmetrical façade with a central bay window, decorative balconies, and an attic cornice. The entrance retains its original wooden carved door. The façade features stylized ornamentation typical of the Secession style.
Inside are marble stairs, terrazzo flooring, original iron railings, and in some apartments — early 20th-century stoves, parquet floors, and interior doors.
Interesting Facts
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The house is part of a three-building ensemble designed and built by the same architect — a rare case in Lviv.
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Bronisław Sołtys‘s sculptural decoration adds exceptional artistic value to the façade.
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Volodymyr Shylan, a notable Ukrainian poet and artist, lived in the building in the 1920s–30s.
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Although it lacks individual monument status, it belongs to Lviv’s protected historical area.
What Is There Now?
The building remains a residential property, with most apartments privatized. Some ground-floor spaces are used for small businesses. The structure is in good condition, though some decorative elements require restoration. It is a valuable example of early 20th-century Lviv Art Nouveau housing.
Bibliography
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Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Secession Period
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Melnyk I. Lviv’s Streets and Tenement Houses
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Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv