Formation of the Street
General Chuprynka Street is one of Lviv’s key thoroughfares, stretching from the city center toward the western districts. Historically, it developed as an extension of Kopernyka Street, passing through the former Kulparkiv suburb. Active urban development began at the end of the 19th century, coinciding with the construction of the railway, hospitals, and infrastructure in western Lviv.
Before World War II, the street was known as 29 Listopada Street (named after Poland’s November Constitution Day) and later as Kleparivska during the Soviet era. In the 1990s, it was renamed after General Taras Chuprynka — the nom de guerre of Roman Shukhevych, commander of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The street today showcases architectural diversity, from early 20th-century villas to postwar apartment blocks.
2. About the Building at 60 General Chuprynka St.
Builders and Styles
No. 60 is a villa-style townhouse built in 1912–1913, likely designed by Ivan Levynskyi’s bureau or his students, who were active in this district. The style is Secession with Neo-Romantic influences, featuring asymmetrical facades, varied volumes, and decorative use of brick and plaster.
The façade includes risalits, bay windows, arched and rectangular windows, and restrained stucco floral decoration. It was originally intended as a single-family or duplex residence for the upper middle class — likely professors, physicians, or civil servants.
Who Was the Owner?
The house was initially owned by a private individual, possibly a professor or doctor due to the nearby medical institutions in Kulparkiv. During the interwar period, it functioned as a private villa. After 1939, it was nationalized and converted into multi-family housing. In Soviet times, it may have also housed offices or administrative institutions. Today, it is primarily residential.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The house is two or three stories high (depending on terrain), with a high foundation, attic space, and a complex sloped roof. Windows are arched or rectangular, some with original wooden frames. Stucco ornamentation with plant motifs, cornices, and wrought-iron balconies are still present. The entrance is emphasized with a stylized portal.
Interesting Facts
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The house was built as part of a “garden city” concept typical of early 20th-century western Lviv suburbs.
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In the 1920s–30s, the neighborhood was popular among intellectuals and military officers.
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After WWII, the house may have been used by municipal or party institutions — a common use for villas of this type.
What Is There Now?
The house is still in use as residential property. Some rooms are used as offices or workshops. The building retains its architectural identity and is an important example of villa-style development in early 20th-century Lviv.
Bibliography
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Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Secession Period
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Melnyk I. Lviv: Architectural Mosaic
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Vuytsyk V. Architecture of Lviv