Formation of the street
Taras Shevchenko Avenue is one of Lviv’s oldest and most prestigious streets. It was formed along the ancient trade route next to the Poltva River. As early as the 17th century, estate buildings appeared here. In the 19th century, these gave way to elegant urban development. In 1871, the street was renamed Akademichna, becoming a cultural and intellectual hub: home to the Galician Sejm, the university, bookstores, cafés, and editorial offices.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the street was transformed with magnificent Secession and Historicist buildings. During Soviet times, it was renamed after Taras Shevchenko. Despite political changes, the avenue has retained its symbolic and urban significance. Today, it forms a vital part of Lviv’s architectural heritage and is a protected historical zone.
Builders and style
House No. 24 was built in 1913 by architect Michał Ulam. It is a hallmark of Late Secession, with decorative stucco, sculpted panels, ceramic inserts, and a richly detailed vestibule. The layout follows the income house model: commercial premises on the ground floor and apartments above.
Who was the owner?
The original owner during the interwar period was Michał Auerbach, a Jewish investor. Previously, the land belonged to a Commercial Union, which commissioned the project. After WWII, the building was nationalized. The ground floor was adapted for Dental Polyclinic No. 1, which still operates. The upper floors are residential or commercial today.
What does the building look like?
It is a three-story brick house with a mezzanine. The symmetrical façade is adorned with stucco panels, cornices, rosettes, and ceramic inlays. Ground-floor windows and doorways have arched frames, while the entrance features a small balcony. Inside, original marble stairs, wrought-iron railings, and ceramic tiles are preserved.
Interesting facts
– The building was erected on the former estate of Lukasz Matiyashevskyi, sold in the 1880s.
– Architect Michał Ulam was known for his modern income houses in Lviv.
– Akademichna Street, where the house stands, was considered Lviv’s most elegant address between the wars.
– In the 1950s, a mezzanine was added, and entrance doors were modernized.
– Dental Polyclinic No. 1 has operated here for over 70 years.
What is there now?
Today, the building serves a mixed function: the ground floor houses a municipal dental clinic, and the upper floors contain residential apartments and office space.
References
-
Lviv City Cadastral Map (1849)
-
Michał Ulam’s Architectural Archive (1910–1914)
-
Registry of Architectural Monuments of Lviv Region
-
History of Dental Polyclinic No. 1 (Municipal Medical Archives)