Formation of the Street
Zelena Street is one of the oldest and longest streets in Lviv, stretching from the city center (St. George’s Square) to the southeastern outskirts. The earliest written references to a road corresponding to modern Zelena Street date back to the mid-16th century, when it was known as the Wallachian Route — a vital trade road leading toward Moldova.
In the 17th century, settlement began forming along what would become Zelena Street, though for a long time the area remained semi-rural, covered in groves and orchards with scattered manor houses. The street received its modern name, “Zelena” (Green), due to the abundance of vegetation surrounding it.
In the second half of the 19th century, Zelena Street began to develop rapidly as one of Lviv’s key thoroughfares. By the 1860s–1870s, industrial buildings, warehouses, and workshops began to appear. The installation of a tram line in 1911 turned Zelena into a vital transit corridor and an area of mixed residential and industrial development. In the 20th century, the street maintained its strategic importance; during the Soviet era, it hosted major printing and textile facilities.
Builders and Styles
The building at 20 Zelena Street was constructed in the second half of the 19th century, most likely as an industrial or warehouse facility. Its architecture reflects features of industrial historicism: brick masonry, restrained decoration, symmetrical facades with large windows. Some finishing details suggest the building was later adapted for office or mixed use, though its original style remains recognizable.
Who Was the Owner?
Originally, the building was owned by private individuals and used for the production of paper goods. In the early 20th century, a factory operated here producing cigarette sleeves and playing cards. During the Soviet era, it was transferred to a state-owned printing complex, most likely the “Atlas” Book Factory. Today, the building is privately owned and is partially used for printing and partially as office space.
What Does the Building Look Like?
It is a three-story brick building, potentially with a mansard level. The facade is simple: exposed brickwork in places, some plastered sections, large rectangular windows arranged in rhythm. The ground floor features storefront-style windows, suggesting mixed commercial use. There is a service entrance and a side courtyard access, typical for industrial facilities.
Interesting Facts
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In the early 20th century, one of Lviv’s oldest private printing houses operated here, producing labels, cigarette sleeves, and playing cards.
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During World War I, the factory temporarily printed local currency (emergency money).
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After World War II, the building housed a workshop of the state-owned book factory, producing notebooks and covers.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building hosts office spaces and printing-related businesses. Some areas are rented out. The building is maintained in working condition and, while not listed as a historic monument, remains an important example of preserved 19th-century industrial architecture in Lviv.
Bibliography
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Melnyk I. V. Streets and Tenement Houses of Lviv.
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Encyclopedia of Lviv, Vol. 2.
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Skorowidz Królewskiego Stołecznego Miasta Lwowa (1871).
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Księga adresowa Małopolski (1935–1936).
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State Archive of the Lviv Region (DALO), fund 2, inventory 1.