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 town of Hlyniany. In 1933, it was renamed after Polish political figure Tadeusz Hołówko. During the German occupation in 1943, it received the name Ridna Shkola-Gasse (“Native School Lane”). In July 1944, the name Hołówko was restored, but in December of the same year, the street was renamed 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.
Architects and Styles
Building No. 12 on Dmytro Dontsov Street is a notable architectural monument in the Secession (Art Nouveau) style, built in 1907 by the renowned architectural firm of Ivan Levynskyi. The building is decorated with ceramic elements produced at Levynskyi’s factory, which give it a distinctive and ornate appearance.
Who Was the Owner?
This residential building was constructed for Roman Kovshevych, a Ukrainian lawyer and judge, highlighting its historical and cultural importance.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building is part of a unified ensemble with No. 14, forming a harmonious architectural complex on Dontsov Street. No. 12 is a vivid example of Lviv’s Secession-style architecture from the early 20th century and holds significant value in the city’s history and heritage.
What Is There Now?
As of 2025, the building retains its residential function.
Sources
State Archives of the Lviv Region (DALO), fond 2, file 2, case 2280.
Lewicki, Jakub. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv, 1893–1918 (Warsaw: Neriton Publishing, Society for the Protection of Monuments, 2005), p. 590.
Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv (Lemberg, 1913).
Address Book of Lesser Poland: List of Buildings in the City of Lviv (Lviv. Stanisławów. Ternopil, 1935–1936).