Book House (Shprehera), Lviv
Shprehera House or House of Books in Lviv - a unique building, built in the early 20th century. Construction lasted from 1912 to 1921. House of Books located on Mickiewicz Square, near the monument to the famous Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. House Shprehera is the proud name of the first skyscraper of the city. Book House in Lviv is an iconic building of the city, as well as an architectural monument of national importance.
History of the House Shprehera
The history of the tallest building in Lviv begins in 1912. It was then the owner of the largest construction companies in Galicia John Shpreher, being one of the richest people in the region, decided to build a truly most challenging building in the city. In 1910, in Lviv out a decree that all the buildings of the city should not exceed the height of the mark of four floors. However Shpreher cleverly circumvents the ban. Ground floor building and is not applied to the floors above it built several mezzanines that were actually full floors above the fourth floor there is an attic.
When in 1914 over the house Shprehera grows the fifth floor, the public mood has greatly inflamed. Then the construction of the project is frozen for four years. Shprehera House resumed only in 1918. After partial adjustments architecture of the house the height of its facade was limited to 24 meters, as opposed to the previously planned 26 m.
The architecture of the house of the book in Lviv
The author of the architectural gems of Lviv made famous town planner, beloved master Shprehera - F. Glaser. Book House was built in neo-classical architectural style with elements of modernism. It is characterized by the prevalence of a variety of academic variations - pilasters, gabardine, decorative cornices. Shprehera House has 6 floors.
One of the highlights of the architecture of the house Shprehera - unusual sculptures of lizards and dragons, most likely made by the sculptor Sigmund Kurchinsky.
It is worth noting that the house of the book was equipped with central heating and ventilation. In its construction were used reinforced concrete structures. An interesting aspect of the building are the two-speed electric elevator, which first appeared here.
What to put in the house of the book
In 1922, when the house was put into operation, there are the most diverse organizations, however, was dominated by offices of the largest French oil concern "Malopolska", as there are shops, a library, Consulate of Romania and Hungary, pharmacy stencil and more.
In 1946 the house was handed over to Shprehera balance "Lvovneftegazorozvedka." Until the mid-1950s, there were box office pre-sale of railway tickets. In the 1960s, the space on the ground floor of the house Shprehera was converted, and there is a house book. It existed for about 50 years, and in 2010 his place was taken by numerous boutiques.
How to get to the house in Lviv Shprehera
Book House in Lviv is located at area Mickiewicz, 8, in the central part of the city. You can get here from the Central Station by tram number 1 (stop "Ulitsa Peter Doroshenko") or number 10 (stop "street Basement").
