Formation of the Street
Dmytro Dontsov Street in Lviv is located in the Lychakivskyi district, connecting Lychakivska and Pekarska streets. It was laid out in the early 20th century and was originally called Hlynanska Street, named after the nearby town of Hlyniany. In 1933, it was renamed in honor of the Polish political figure Tadeusz Hołówko. During the German occupation in 1943, it was given the name Ridna Shkola-Gasse (“Native School Lane”). In July 1944, the name Hołówko was restored, but in December of that year, the street was renamed again after Soviet commander Hryhoriy Kotovsky. In 1992, it received its current name in honor of Dmytro Dontsov — a Ukrainian political thinker and ideologist of integral nationalism.
The street is predominantly lined with Secession-style (Art Nouveau) buildings constructed in the first half of the 20th century. Most of these buildings are listed as local architectural heritage monuments. In particular, buildings No. 6, 8, 8a, 10, and 10a were built between 1906 and 1908 by the renowned architectural firm of Ivan Levynskyi. These apartment houses are notable for their decorative facades and form a characteristic cour d’honneur — an inner courtyard surrounded by buildings.
Architects and Style
Building No. 10a is part of the ensemble of tenement houses at Nos. 6, 8, 8a, 10, and 10a, erected between 1906 and 1908 by the famous firm of Ivan Levynskyi. These buildings were designed in the Viennese Secession style and feature a cour d’honneur, a common feature of urban planning in that era.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owners of the building were Maria and Zygmunt Landau. They commissioned the construction of this ensemble as income-generating tenement houses, a typical practice in Lviv at the beginning of the 20th century.
What Does the Building Look Like?
Building No. 10a features distinct characteristics of Secessionist architecture:
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Decorative facades with ceramic details
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Large windows and artistically crafted balconies
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An inner courtyard (cour d’honneur) providing extra light and ventilation
These elements together create an aesthetically pleasing and functional residential space.
Interesting Facts
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The ensemble of buildings on Dontsov Street, including No. 10a, exemplifies an integrated approach to urban planning, where architecture is harmoniously combined with spatial solutions to ensure comfortable living.
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The Ivan Levynskyi firm was known for its innovative building techniques, using the most modern materials and methods available at the time.
What Is There Now?
As of 2025, Building No. 10a retains its residential function. It is officially listed in the Register of Local Architectural Monuments, underscoring its historical and cultural significance.
List of Sources and Literature
State Archives of the Lviv Region (DALO): Fond 2, Inventory 1, File 2438.
Lewicki, Jakub. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv in the Years 1893–1918. Warsaw: Neriton Publishing House, Society for the Protection of Monuments, 2005.
Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv. Lviv: 1913.
Address Book of Lesser Poland: List of Buildings in the City of Lviv. Lviv–Stanisławów–Tarnopol, 1935–1936.
Slobodian, Vasyl. Ukrainian Architecture of Lviv at the Turn of the 19th–20th Century: Art Nouveau, Secession, Functionalism. Lviv: Institute of Ukrainian Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2011.