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Article

The architecture of Drohobych railway station buildings

Youri Rotchniak*

rotchniak.youri@gmail.com

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from a professional interest and the need to understand the processes that have shaped the architecture of Drohobych railway station, which has undergone changes over more than 150 years. Attention to railway stations and rail transport has intensified against the backdrop of the ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine for over 12 years. In this context, the importance of rail transport for evacuation, supply, defence and offensive operations is well recognised; consequently, railway stations are among the state’s vital infrastructure. At the same time, drawing attention to the country’s historical and material heritage requires further knowledge to ensure their protection. The aim of this study was to examine the architecture of Drohobych railway station from functional, territorial-spatial, planning, structural, social and artistic perspectives. Particular attention was focused on the architecture of Drohobych railway station as represented in the 1911 design project discovered in the Central State Historical Archives of Lviv. Based on desk-based research methods, comparative analysis, photographic documentation techniques, and field observations, a study was conducted of the dynamics of change in the station buildings at Drohobych. Important information was obtained from both published and media sources. The position of the first station building within the context of similar railway structures in this foothill region of Galicia was established, as well as the connection between station buildings and other, primarily public, architecture. This allowed for generalisations to be drawn – on the one hand, regarding the typical nature of railway station construction, and on the other, its uniqueness specifically to Drohobych. In particular, it has been established that the 1911 drawings clearly reveal two distinct design concepts: clear functional zoning and the social and spatial determinants of the station building and its grounds. The consideration of the territorial and spatial layout of the structures within the urban context is evident. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of railway station construction in the city, the region and the region’s transport links. At the same time, they provide further grounds for exploring other sources and research directions. These and other materials and findings form the basis for the future use of such important historical structures against the backdrop of social, transport, technical and other changes

Keywords

building; station; railway; space; Galicia

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Received 09.01.2026, Revised 17.04.2026, Accepted 02.06.2026 Published 22.06.2026

Retrieved from Vol. 12, No. 2, 2026

Suggested citation

Rotchniak, Yo. (2026). The architecture of Drohobych railway station buildings. Architectural Studies, 12(2), 28-42. https://doi.org/10.56318/as/2.2026.03

https://doi.org/10.56318/as/2.2026.03

Pages 28-42

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ISSN 2411-801X e-ISSN 2786-7374  UDC 71;72
DOI: 10.56318/as