Residential Building

Formation of the Street

Zelena Street is one of Lviv’s oldest urban arteries, connecting the city’s historical core with its southeastern outskirts. Its origins trace back to the 16th–17th centuries when it was part of a trade route to Moldova and Wallachia, known in early sources as the Wallachian Route. In the 17th century, it became known as “Zelena” (Green) due to the groves, orchards, and meadows it passed through.

Under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (late 18th to early 20th century), the street became part of Lviv’s expanding urban grid. By the mid-19th century, factories, tenement buildings, and villas for professionals, artisans, and entrepreneurs lined the street. The lower part of Zelena developed as a villa zone, while the further stretch hosted warehouses and industrial buildings.

The construction of an electric tram line in 1894 made Zelena a major transport route, stimulating dense development until the interwar period. After World War II, Soviet-era housing was added, but much of the historic architecture remains intact.

Builders and Styles

Building No. 46 was constructed in the 1910s in the Neo-Gothic style. This romantic style echoes medieval forms — red brickwork, pointed arches, decorative turrets, and complex cornice lines. A prominent eagle sculpture adorns the facade, giving the building its nickname: “House under the Eagle.”

Who Was the Owner?

There is no confirmed information about the building’s original owner in public sources. It was likely built as a private tenement for residential and rental use.

What Does the Building Look Like?

The four-story building features a red-brick facade with pointed arch windows, a profiled entrance portal, and wrought-iron balcony railings. A sculpted eagle is mounted prominently above the entrance. Some stained glass remains preserved.

Interesting Facts

• The eagle sculpture on the facade earned the building the informal name “House under the Eagle.”

• During the interwar years, the building housed artisan workshops and residential apartments.

• Today, the building is an example of adapting historic architecture for contemporary medical facilities.

What Is There Now?

Currently, the building houses the dental clinic “M.R.S. Stomatology,” along with residential apartments and a few private offices.