Architecture in the context of socio-cultural polarisation: The case of Lviv (1991-2025)

The relevance of the research lay in examining the contemporary architectural governance of Lviv, which required a developed media component and an established dialogue between groups with opposing cultural and aesthetic views. The aim of the study was to determine the dependence of urban architecture stylistics on the moderation of public opinion and the prevention of antagonistic and hostile narratives in professional and public environments. The article examined the relationship between sociocultural polarisation and stylistic evolution of urban architecture in Lviv during 1991-2025. The example of Lviv showed that the lack of effective mediation between traditionalist and liberal positions in architectural discourse led to conflicts of values and a decline in the quality of design decisions. Based on an analysis of media and professional materials, two main phases of architectural development have been identified: postmodernism (1991-2010), characterised by a rejection of Soviet modernism and a romanticisation of historical forms, and neomodernism (2011-2025), in which modernism was reinterpreted as a symbol of European identity. Sharp criticism of neomodernist projects by the public had become a social phenomenon that had influenced architectural decisions. An example of this was the conflict surrounding the reconstruction of St. George’s Square, which ended with a compromise solution and initiated a trend toward “neutral” and prosaic forms. The practical value of the article lies in demonstrating how establishing mutual understanding between proponents of different architectural approaches can improve the quality of design decisions, avoid excessive simplification, and preserve architecture as a carrier of urban identity