Polish ethnographer restores historic Lviv villa: 'I saw it and fell in love'

Katarzyna Łoza, a Polish ethnographer and cultural anthropologist who has lived in Ukraine for 22 years, purchased a historic villa in Lviv in 2021, fulfilling a dream she didn't initially plan for. The villa, known as Ajwa, was acquired by Łoza and her husband after a chance encounter with an enigmatic advertisement: "Austrian house with columns." Despite the lack of photos and a hesitant real estate agent describing it as a ruin, Łoza was captivated by the property.

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We didn't plan to buy property with my husband. We lived in a comfortable, large apartment, so the purchase was not driven by the need to increase living space.

Upon visiting the villa on Piaskowa Street in Lviv, Łoza found the description accurate; it was indeed a dilapidated structure with only a single column visible. However, she saw its potential, envisioning its future state. Although the house was too small and in too poor condition for the friend she was initially looking for a property for, Łoza and her husband decided to buy it for themselves. After a tense week of waiting, the owner agreed to sell.

Research into the house revealed it was built in 1906 in a style typical of Lviv's suburbs, featuring a brick structure and a wooden veranda, possibly serving as a summer residence. Notably, it lacked a bathroom, common for the era. The building underwent a significant transformation in the 1920s, gaining a modernist character under the direction of architect Józef Hornung. This renovation included changes to the window placement, entrance, and the addition of the prominent column at the porch. The house's usable area was approximately 125 square meters.

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I saw it and fell in love.

Adding to its historical significance, the villa was purchased by the grandfather of the renowned Polish poet Adam Zagajewski during the interwar period, and the poet was born within its walls. The villa's rich history, from its initial construction to its modernist redesign and its connection to a celebrated literary figure, makes it a unique cultural asset in Lviv.

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Austrian house with columns.