Street Formation
Petra Doroshenka Street is one of Lviv’s oldest and most prominent urban thoroughfares. It begins at Svobody Avenue and runs west toward Stepana Bandery Street. Originally part of a medieval route leading to the Krakiv suburb and the village of Klepariv, it was first mentioned in the 15th century as Sixtus Road, named after the Lviv burgomaster and benefactor Erasm Sixtus, who owned property in the area.
Over the centuries, the street underwent numerous transformations. In the 17th–18th centuries, it was lined with modest single-story homes and artisan workshops. In the 19th century, amid industrial urban expansion, Sixtus Road became one of the main commercial streets of Lviv’s Galician district. In 1894, an electric tram line was introduced, linking the center with Klepariv and the Main Railway Station—solidifying the street’s role as a vital transport and retail corridor.
During the interwar period, the street was named Defense of Lviv Street; during the Soviet era, it became Zhovtneva Street. In 1992, it was renamed after Hetman Petro Doroshenko. The street’s architecture reflects over 150 years of development—from historicism and Secession to constructivism and modernism.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 15 on Doroshenka Street was constructed in 1906–1907 in the Viennese Secession style. The design was created by architects Zygmunt Kendzerski and Michał Ulam, with some sources also attributing the concept to Tadeusz Obmiński. The building is three stories high, with an asymmetrical facade, decorative stucco elements, arched windows, wrought-iron balconies, and organic motifs typical of Secession.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was commissioned by Julian Hausman, a local entrepreneur, as an income-generating property. In the 1920s–1930s, the ground floor was home to the popular “Sans-Souci” café, frequented by the city’s intelligentsia. After World War II, the premises were nationalized. During the Soviet era, it hosted a wine store and a rare sound recording atelier. Today, the building is privately owned.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The three-story brick and plaster building features an asymmetrical facade with Secession-style decorative stucco, profiled cornices, arched windows, and ornamental ironwork balconies. In 2017, seven balconies were professionally restored, preserving the building’s architectural integrity.
Interesting Facts
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The “Sans-Souci” café operated here in the interwar period, known as a cultural hub for artists and intellectuals.
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During the Soviet era, a sound recording studio operated here—an unusual institution for Lviv at the time.
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In 2017, balcony restoration was completed based on original architectural documentation.
What Is There Now?
Today, Building No. 15 on Petra Doroshenka Street serves as a residential tenement with commercial premises on the ground floor, including a pawnshop, a shoe store, and a perfumery pharmacy. The building is a protected architectural monument and remains a significant element of Lviv’s historical cityscape.
Bibliography
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History of Petra Doroshenka Street in Lviv
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Architecture of Lviv: Eras and Styles
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Residential Development of Lviv in the Early 20th Century
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Historical and Architectural Overview of Lviv
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Restoration Works in Lviv (2000–2020)