Formation of the Street
Zdorovia Street is located in Lviv’s historic Novyi Svit district, which began developing actively at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. This area emerged on the site of former suburban estates and orchards. The street itself was laid out around 1904–1905 as part of a planned urban grid between Kopernyka and Kyivska streets.
The street’s early name, “Sodova Side Street,” reflects its connection to the soda water industry. Nearby was the mineral water and soft drink factory “Zdorovia,” founded by architect and entrepreneur Ivan Levynskyi. The factory became the key catalyst for the development of residential housing in the area, attracting employees, tenants, and supporting services.
During the interwar period, the street maintained its residential character. In 1946, during the Soviet era, it was renamed in honor of writer Stepan Tudor. In 1992, the historical name “Zdorovia” (Health) was restored.
The street remains an example of early 20th-century modernist low-rise residential development with mixed-use buildings.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 12 was constructed around 1904–1905, likely designed by architect Yakub Rysiak in collaboration with the firm of Ivan Levynskyi. The architectural style is Art Nouveau (Secession) with Neo-Renaissance influences.
The two-story brick structure has a rectangular plan and symmetrical layout. The facade features decorative plasterwork — floral motifs around windows, a small balcony with a balustrade, and a central pediment with a round attic window. Wooden doors and portions of the original joinery have been preserved.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner is unknown, though the building likely served residential or service functions related to Levynskyi’s factory. During the interwar period, it functioned as a residential property.
After World War II, the building was transferred to medical institutions. Since then, it has housed what is now the Consultative Outpatient Clinic of the Institute of Blood Pathology and Transfusion Medicine under the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.
What Does the Building Look Like?
It is a symmetrical two-story building with gabled side walls. The facade is plastered and painted in a light tone. The central part features a small projection with a balcony and a triangular pediment. Windows are rectangular, framed with decorative elements. The pitched roof includes attic rooms.
Interesting Facts
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The building is listed as a local architectural monument (registry number 2210-m).
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In the 1920s, nearby experimental labs for Levynskyi’s factory operated adjacent to this house.
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A founding engineer of Lviv’s early waterworks is believed to have resided here for a time.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building houses the Consultative Outpatient Clinic of the Institute of Blood Pathology and Transfusion Medicine (National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine). The facade is well maintained, and the interior remains in use. The building is a functioning medical site with protected architectural status.
Bibliography
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Melnyk I. V. Streets and Tenement Houses of Lviv
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Lewicki Jakub. Między tradycją a nowoczesnością: Architektura Lwowa lat 1893–1918
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State Archive of the Lviv Region, fund 2, inventory 1
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Księga adresowa miasta Lwowa (1935)
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Encyclopedia of Lviv, Vol. 2