Formation of the Street
Zamarstynivska Street is one of the oldest arterial roads in Lviv, stretching from St. Nicholas Church on Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street to the northern outskirts of the city. Its origins date back to the 14th century when, in 1386, Andreas Sommerstein, a German vogt of Lviv, founded the Sommersteinhof estate. Around this estate, the village of Zamarstyniv emerged. The street was named after the estate.
In the 17th century, the street was known as Muravani Mosty (Stone Bridges), referencing a stone bridge that crossed one of the branches of the Poltva River. Throughout history, Zamarstynivska Street underwent numerous changes, including a renaming to Kalinina Street during the Soviet period from 1946 to 1990. The street historically connected the city’s core with outlying settlements and served as a key route to the northern trade and craft suburbs of Lviv.
Builders and Styles
The building at 21 Zamarstynivska Street was constructed in the second half of the 19th century in the style of historicism, with elements of Neo-Renaissance architecture, typical for that era in Lviv. The architect of the house was Ferdinand Kassler, who also designed other notable residential and civic buildings in the city. The building’s façade features ornamental stucco and decorative details that lend it a distinguished and elegant appearance.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner of the property was the Zamarstynivskyi family, a local noble family known for their contributions to civic life and charitable work in Lviv. During the interwar period, the building belonged to Jan Kowalski, who used it as an income-generating property, renting apartments. After World War II, the house was nationalized by Soviet authorities and transferred into municipal ownership.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building is three stories tall, with a symmetrical façade adorned with ornamental plasterwork and cornices. The entrance features an arched portal with stone columns. The windows are rectangular and framed by decorative moldings. The gabled roof is covered with red clay tiles. Overall, the structure has retained its original appearance and is a good example of late 19th-century urban residential architecture in Lviv.
Interesting Facts
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In 2017, a memorial plaque was installed on the building’s façade in honor of Raphael Lemkin, a lawyer of Jewish descent who coined the term “genocide” in international law.
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The building is part of the historical neighborhood of Zamarstyniv, which during the interwar period was predominantly inhabited by members of Lviv’s Jewish community.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building at 21 Zamarstynivska Street functions as a residential apartment building, with privately owned flats. The ground floor hosts several commercial premises, including small shops and offices. The building is recognized as a local architectural heritage site and is protected under national heritage conservation regulations.
Bibliography
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“Zamarstynivska Street” — general historical overview
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“Zamarstyniv” — historical development of the neighborhood
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Historical photography collections of Lviv (Zamarstyniv through time)
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Urban memory projects about Jewish heritage and memorials
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Studies of Lviv’s neighborhoods and etymology of street names