In a building on Konovaltsia Street, the restoration of a metal Art Nouveau gate has been completed – a unique example from the early 20th century that has survived to this day. The gate is distinguished by its refined decorative elements and complex construction, which required comprehensive restoration. Moreover, an extraordinary discovery was made – traces of gilded decoration with gold leaf.
The gate had been in a neglected state: the thresholds and the lower part of the frame were destroyed up to a height of 50 cm, a significant portion of the glass was missing, and the latch, hinges, and bolts were either lost or unfit for use. The geometry of the structure was also distorted, which complicated its functioning.
During the restoration works, specialists managed to uncover a number of unique authentic details. In particular, brass decorative strips fastened with brass rivets with diamond-shaped heads were found on the door leaf and restored by the conservators. While cleaning the petals of the ornament, they discovered traces of gilding with gold leaf – these elements were carefully restored in collaboration with conservator Yurko Mykolayishyn. Remnants of the gate’s original color were also identified and used to determine the final coating.
An important part of the restoration was the reconstruction of the lost glazing with faceted glass, which lends the gate a special refinement. The upper part of the fanlight with faceted glass had been damaged by a crude layer of black paint. A new latch, new hinges, and bolts were crafted, modeled after the authentic ones. Thanks to this, the gate has once again become a three-leaf structure, with all three leaves now able to open.
“Restoring metal Art Nouveau gates is always a complex process. After all, we work not only with metal, but also with elements of glass, brass, and artistic decoration. It was important not only to restore functionality, but also to bring back the original beauty of this work of art,” noted Stefania Topylko, Director of the Lviv Municipal Enterprise Heritage Bureau.
The total cost of the restoration amounted to 124,977 UAH. Of this sum, the residents of the building contributed 37,493 UAH (30%), while the remaining 87,484 UAH (70%) was covered by the international technical assistance project “Art Nouveau as a New Eurotopia.”
As a reminder, Lviv has a co-funding program for the restoration of doors and windows in buildings within the city’s historic area, which will run until 2029. Information on how to participate in the program can be found on the Heritage Bureau’s website in the “Co-funding” section.
