The vintage postcard “The Sovnarkhoz Building. Lviv, 1960” is a photographic document from the era of Khrushchev’s economic decentralization reforms in the USSR.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard depicts a monumental three-story building designed in the neoclassical style. The upper facade features a row of tall arched windows separated by Corinthian pilasters and is crowned with an attic balustrade. The lower level of the building is heavily rusticated. In the foreground, there is a landscaped front yard with green lawns, shrubs, and a paved pathway with several pedestrians dressed in late 1950s and early 1960s attire.
Historical note
The Sovnarkhozy (Councils of National Economy) were established in the USSR during the 1957 economic reform to transition from sectoral, ministry-based management to a regional, territorial model. The Lviv Economic Administrative Region managed the industrial output of several surrounding administrative regions. To house its large administrative staff, several prominent historic buildings in the city center, previously owned by Austro-Hungarian and Polish authorities, were repurposed.
Present day
Following the dissolution of the Sovnarkhoz system in 1965 and the reinstatement of centralized ministries, these administrative facilities were redistributed among various state departments, scientific research institutes, and educational organizations in Lviv. The architectural appearance of the building remains largely unchanged, and it continues to serve administrative or educational functions today.
Questions and answers
- What was the Sovnarkhoz? The Sovnarkhoz (Council of National Economy) was a regional state body in the USSR responsible for the management of industry and construction during the reform period of 1957–1965.
- What are the main architectural features of the building on the postcard? The building features neoclassical architecture, with a rusticated lower floor, tall arched upper windows divided by Corinthian pilasters, a decorative roof balustrade, and a landscaped garden in front.
- How was the building used after the Sovnarkhoz system was abolished? Following the system’s dissolution in 1965, the administrative buildings were reassigned to various state authorities, planning and research institutes, and universities in Lviv.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Lviv from 1960.
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