Formation of the square
Markiyan Shashkevych Square is one of Lviv’s central urban spaces. Established in 1913 to honor the Ukrainian poet, it was created on a former vacant lot as a civic square. It lies at the intersection of Mateyko, Stavropigiyska, and Kopernyka streets and features a green park, first-wave 20th-century architecture, and serves as a significant urban node in the Shevchenkivskyi District.
Builders and style
House No. 6 on the square was built between 1913 and 1916 for the Ukrainian Music Society named after Mykola Lysenko. Designed by a team led by Ivan Levynskyi with Alexander Lushpinsky, Yevhen Chervinsky, and Tadei Obminsky, the building exemplifies Ukrainian Modernism blended with decorative Secession. Exterior frescoes by Modest Sosnenko and sculptural works by Hryhorii Kuznevych adorn the façade.
Who was the owner?
The original owner was the Ukrainian Music Society, which constructed the club-house. During the Soviet era, the building was nationalized and became part of the educational system. Today it serves as the main campus of the Lviv College named after Stanislav Lyudkevych, and is municipally owned.
What does the building look like?
A four-story brick tenement with ornate stucco façade, strong cornice, and symmetrical window layout. The façade features decorative bas-reliefs, murals, and sculpture. The courtyard contains an arched passage and service wings. The interiors feature preserved vestibule paintings and Modernist finishing.
Interesting facts
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The square was created specifically for the Music Society’s building in 1913.
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In 1926, its assembly hall hosted the unification congress of “Prosvita” and “Narodna Volya.”
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During the interwar period, it housed a cinema with multiple name changes.
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Artwork includes murals by Sosnenko and sculptures by Kuznevych.
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The building is a local heritage site (No. 390); No. 6 is separately listed (No. 747).
What is there now?
House No. 6 currently serves as the main building of the Lviv College named after Stanislav Lyudkevych, with cultural and educational organizations occupying other parts. The square features historic houses and a landscaped park. It is within a protected historic zone. Restoration programs have preserved the façade, murals, and architectural details.
References
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Wikipedia — “Markiyan Shashkevych Square (Lviv)”
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Monograph: Ivan Levynskyi and Ukrainian Modernism
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Center for Urban History — Description of Building and Square