Vul. Kniazia Romana, 06 – Lviv Radio office building

The block between modern Kniazia Romana and Nyzhankivskoho streets and the Halytska square came into existence after the demolishing of the city fortifications in the second half of the 18^th century. In 1766 there already were some wooden houses there (see a 1766 map). In 1777 three houses were located on the place of the house number 6: numbers 387, 388, 389 (see a 1777 map). By 1802 the area was parcelled, and this division survived until 1939. On the place of the contemporary building, a wooden house (n. 443) and two stone houses (nn. 444 and 445) were situated (a 1802 map).

During the 19^th century the houses, located on the mentioned parcels, were repeatedly reconstructed. In 1912 they were bought by wealthy entrepreneurs Ludwik Stadtmüller and Karol Czudżak. The latter was known, in particular, as the owner of the bakery "Merkury". The new owners demolished the old townhouses with the aim to build on the place a new multi-storied apartment house. The project was developed in the bureau of architect Adolf Piller, as evidenced by stamps on the design drawings (DALO 2/1/992). According to literature sources, the project was co-authored by Roman Völpel (Архітектура Львова, 2008, 492; also, Lewicki, 2005, 35). The project of the new building was approved by the Lviv Magistrate on 18 June 1912 (DALO 2/1/992: 51). Originally, it was designed a fully five-storied one, but, according to the current building codes and the Magistrate’s requirements, the part of the house facing Nyzhankivskoho street was lowered by one floor in the project. The relevant additional drawings, including that of the rear façade and separate floor plans, were approved on 14 September 1912 (DALO 2/1/992: 56). The plan of the 5^th floor was approved on 17 April 1913 (DALO 2/1/992: 58). However, the building was erected as a fully five-storied one and so it is today.

The building is an example of early Modernism as it is built on a reinforced concrete frame, connected to all pipelines and networks, equipped with a lift and a skylight over the staircase. The façades have an austere décor corresponding to the building’s structure. On the façade at the level of floors 1-2, profiled reinforced concrete bearing pillars are clearly seen.

The house number 6 stands out among the surrounding buildings due to its monumental character. Together with the adjacent house number 4, it is significantly higher than the neighboring buildings and is notable for its restrained, austere style. On the façades, a stylization of medieval architecture can be seen; the composition's verticality is accentuated. On the main façade, there is an entrance portico with granite Neo-Romanesque columns decorated with bás-reliefs depicting lions and a caduceus, the attribute of Mercury, the patron of enterprise, as well as with Modernist Atlas figures of knights. The author of these sculptures was Stanisław Plichal (Rzeźba Lwówska, 2007, 244).

When completed in 1913, the new townhouse was assigned the address Batorego street 6; however, it retained its old conscription numbering (nn. 443 ¼, 444 ¼, 445 ¼). At first it was a residential house. On the ground floor, there were some commercial premises, the second floor was occupied by a restaurant; on the above floors, there were apartments. In the 1920s the "Bank of Polish Lands" was located there. In 1929 some premises were given to the Lviv radio offices. At the same time, on the territory of the Stryiskyi Park, at the corner of Ivana Franka and Kozelnytska streets, a radio broadcasting station was built, where two towers were constructed along with a Functionalist-style building. This complex has not been preserved.

Now the house on Kniazia Romana street 6 is occupied by the Lviv State Regional Radio and by the Lviv Regional Broadcasting Center. Apart from that, the editorial office of the magazine "Dzvin" (founded in 1939 under the title "Literatura i mystetstvo", later "Radiansky Lviv", "Zhovten’") is located there.
According to the Lviv Regional Executive Committee’s resolution number 227 dated 17 July 1990, the building is an architectural monument of local significance (protection number 1199).