City The Theatre square

Theatre Square, known as Elizabeth Square and earlier as Fish Square, is a favourite recreation place of many Chernivtsi residents.

It took 40 years to complete the architectural complex around the square. In the early 19th century it was a city suburb. From time to time city authorities arranged wolf battees there. Later on, a small brickyard was built, and in the middle of the 19th century military stores were constructed. Active re-development of this area began in the 1990’s.
A dominant building in construction of the square was the theatre. There had been an old wooden theatre built in 1877. Because of the risk of fire, the decision to build a new theatre was made. The Fellner and Helmers firm of Vienna was chosen to plan and construct the building. This firm had already constructed 43 theatres all over Europe. The curator of the project in Chernivtsi was Ferdinand Fellner. The main work was done under his guidance. Certain elements of Renaissance style are predominant in the exterior design. As for the interior, its decor is Baroque, with a perfect combination of white and gold¬en colours. The facade of the building is decorated with a sculptural grouping having a Greek mythology motif. Marble busts of outstanding people were placed in tympana. Its inaugural event took place on October 4,1905.

The construction of yet another place of interest, the Palace of Justice, began in Theatre Square on March 2, 1904. In October, 1906, the work was completed. The building project was overseen by Franz Skovron from Vienna and local architect Arthur Vileman executed the details. Franz Gubish chose building materials and worked out building methods. Works were held by Korytnianskyi, Gisenberg and Markus Kislinger, the owner of brickfield "Patria', which had produced brick of premium quality and glazed brick for the construction. The building was constructed in a style close to that of Florentine. At present it is the site of the Oblast State Administration and the Oblast Council.

In 1908 the Jewish House (now the Palace of Culture) was built in Art Nouveau style. It was constructed due to the efforts of Henrich and Josephina Wagner.
It should be noted that every large national community of Chernivtsi had its national house.
The Trade and Crafts Chamber, also in Art Nouveau style, was built in 1908-1910. Now it is the site of the Bukovinian Academy of Medicine. The project was prepared on com¬petitive grounds by architect Fridrich Gottesman. The building consists of four stories and an attic. There is a frieze on the façade with sculptures of the ancient Roman gods Mercury and Gala, patrons of trade and travels. They hold cornucopias in their hands. All along the façade one can see enamel shields with the crafts symbols on them.

The ensemble of Theatre Square was completed in 1937 with the present Officers House, built in Constructivism style. The author of the project was M. Kriange.
It took many years to arrange the square. The issue was first discussed in 1908 at a Magistrate hearing. The plans of Pauschek and Valle appeared then. They presupposed the presence of green plantations, rose¬bushes in particular, a fountain in the centre of the square and a small waterfall at the theatre side.

Green arbours, decorative vases, and bench¬es were also elements of the project. Obviously, the war interfered with this plan. Arrangements for construction took place only in 1936. The square was made two metres deeper, and a newly formed hollow was filled with green grassy slopes and bushes all along. The general look of the square has been preserved to our day with some minor changes.