Formation of the Street
Oleksandr Konyskyi Street is located in the Lychakivskyi district of Lviv, near the intersection of Levytskoho, Tugan-Baranovskoho, and Tershakovtsiv streets. Its direction follows the course of a former stream that once flowed from the Voroblyachyi Pond — part of a series of old water bodies on the slopes of the High Castle — into the Pasika River, a tributary of the Poltva. In the second half of the 19th century, Lviv was rapidly urbanizing, and the area around the current street gradually transformed from a suburban zone into a dense urban neighborhood.
The first mentions of the street’s development date back to the 1840s–1850s. In 1849, it was known as “Lower Pekarska”, indicating its position lower on the slope compared to Pekarska Street. In 1868, it was renamed “To the Sacramentines” due to the nearby monastery of the Sacramentine Sisters. In 1871, it received the name “Okhoronok” — referring to a children’s shelter operating nearby. During the German occupation in 1943, it was temporarily renamed “Kammerweg”. After the Soviet return, the name “Okhoronok” was reinstated. Finally, in 1991, it was renamed in honor of Oleksandr Konyskyi, a Ukrainian writer, translator, teacher, public figure, and author of the lyrics to the hymn “Prayer for Ukraine”.
The area was incorporated into the city in the mid-19th century during Lviv’s eastward expansion toward the Lychakiv district. Following the street’s layout, it was soon lined with tenement houses and villas built in styles such as historicism and Secession. The street has retained a calm, residential character ever since.
Builders and Styles
The house at 4a Konyskoho Street was built in 1907–1908 according to the design of architect Zygmunt Kędzierski for Jadwiga Kędzierska. It represents the style of Viennese Secession typical for urban tenement buildings. The façade features symmetry, a rounded corner, decorative moldings under the windows, and a plant-motif frieze.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner was Jadwiga Kędzierska. In the interwar period, the property belonged to Adolf and Eleonora Bart. Today, the building is a multi-apartment residential house owned by its inhabitants.
What Does the Building Look Like?
It is a four-story brick structure, plastered and painted in soft pastel tones. The main architectural highlight is a rounded corner with rusticated pilasters. The façade includes balconies with wrought iron railings, rectangular windows with original Secession-style woodwork, and decorative panels below the windows.
Interesting Facts
-
Architect Zygmunt Kędzierski designed many notable buildings in central Lviv.
-
This building is one of the few on the street to preserve its original façade decoration.
-
In the 1930s, the tenants included middle-class professionals such as doctors, teachers, and clerks.
What Is There Now?
The building remains a residential structure. Some original interior features such as staircases, tiles, and doors have been preserved. The property is well maintained by its residents.
Bibliography
-
Księga adresowa Małopolski. Wykaz domów na obszarze miasta Lwowa (1935–1936)
-
State Archive of the Lviv Region (DALO) f. 2, op. 1, spr. 337
-
Skorowidz Królewskiego Stołecznego Miasta Lwowa (1871)
-
Lewicki Jakub. Między tradycją a nowoczesnością: Architektura Lwowa lat 1893–1918
-
Archive of building registration cards in Lviv, 1939