In Lviv, a unique lantern in the common corridor on the ground floor of a building at 11b Konovaltsia Street, which is a local architectural monument, has been restored.
Yesterday, the specialists dismantled the stained-glass windows and moved them to the workshop for further restoration.
The restoration was initiated by the residents of the building, who raised funds for the restoration, and Lvivsky Likhtar will help with the materials. The restoration work will be carried out by a well-known Lviv specialist Maria Shumska-Barvinok.
Earlier, as part of the #DEMEZA project, the house became one of the locations where educational training on the preservation of cultural heritage was held with the participation of residents, government officials, district administrations, and restorers.
“This house was a demonstration model, on the basis of which we explained how to properly take care of historic buildings and how not to harm them. And it’s nice that the residents coordinated and turned to a specialist. There are many valuable elements in this house. Earlier, the residents applied for the historic gate renovation programme and are waiting for their turn, so we hope to receive applications for co-financing programmes in the future,” said Stefaniia Topylko, director of the Heritage Bureau.
It should be noted that a skylight is an architectural element used to illuminate rooms with natural light. It is installed on the roofs of buildings and allows sunlight to penetrate into interior spaces, which is especially important for rooms where it is not possible to install conventional windows or there is not enough light from the side openings. In the same building, the lantern is placed in a common corridor on the ground floor.
“This lantern is a stained glass lantern. And although there is a lot of damage, quite a few coloured glasses have been preserved. They are the most valuable in this design, because everything else is background glass, which is colourless and textured. It is easier to replace the unoriginal fragments here than the coloured part, but in general, our task is to preserve everything authentic as much as possible and to choose modern elements to match it, so that the lantern meets the architect’s original intention. I would like to note that skylights can be seen quite often in Lviv houses, but in most cases they are placed above the main staircases on the ceiling. And there are few examples of lanterns on the level of the hall between the first and second floor, as in this house,” said restorer Maria Shumska-Barvinok.
The specialists will also restore the metal structure of the century-old lantern, which is covered with many layers of paint and corrosion. It will be restored on site. It is important that the lantern will be additionally illuminated with an artificial light source, so it will shine in the dark. And this, in addition to the convenience for residents, will add beauty to the interior. “I would like to add that veterans were involved in these and other dismantling works. It is important that they have a job using their civilian knowledge, skills and abilities. It is also a kind of socialisation and adaptation to peaceful life,” the restorer added.
The restoration work is expected to take about one month.
According to Volodymyr Tretyak, a resident of the building, most of the neighbours contributed to the funding of the lantern restoration. “And thanks to LKP, we have the necessary materials. This is an important step towards our cohesion. And I hope that this will be the first of many of our future joint projects,” said Volodymyr Tretiak.
“Residents are increasingly aware that the Soviet era is a thing of the past, and now they are responsible for the condition of their homes. It is impossible to achieve significant positive changes without the active participation of the community. We would like to express our gratitude to the initiative of the residents. We are happy to join the efforts to restore the valuable elements of the building. I think the next challenge for us will be to repair the roof of this building,” said Ihor Shpak, director of Lvivskyi Likhtar.
Tetyana Balukova, Head of the Department of Historic Environment Protection, stressed that it is very important that residents of historic buildings are aware of their responsibility for their property. And they understood that a good result can only be achieved through joint efforts. “Here we have an example of active residents who understood that their private property does not begin at the doorstep of their apartment, but at the front gate of the house,” said Balukova. She also expressed gratitude to the residents for initiating the restoration and inviting a qualified restorer. She added that this example should be exemplary for other residents, as this is the only way to achieve results and save our monuments.
The house at 11b Konovaltsia Street, built in 1911 by architect Henrik Orleans, is an example of a rational Secession with rich facade and interior decoration.