The history of income houses in Moscow dates back to the late 18th century, when the first such house was built on Ilyinka Street (current buildings 8 and 10) according to the design of Matvey Kazakov between 1785 and 1790. In the 1870s, income houses became widely spread in the capital, and a real construction boom began in the late 1890s, continuing until the start of World War I in 1914. It was during this time that the architectural style of Art Nouveau flourished in Moscow, incorporating elements from various European schools. In Austria, for example, multi-apartment income houses with shops on the ground floor became the dominant feature of Art Nouveau.

Architect Ivan Pavlovich Mashkov expressed the main principles of Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession in his project. Characteristic features of the building include the asymmetry of the facade and a variety of finishes, including a majolica panel, ceramic friezes, stucco decor, and metal elements in the design of balconies, canopies, and gates.

The five-story building is designed in a square shape with an inner courtyard and several wings. It was set back from the red line of the street for better visibility from the narrow Kuznetsky Bridge.

The first impression is made by the shaped attic with a majolica panel depicting a soaring falcon over a seascape, created by Nikolai Nikolayevich Sapunov. All ceramic works were produced at the Butyrsky ceramic factory "Abramtsevo," known for its products for the "Metropol" hotel.

The panel is divided by pilasters that transition into pedestal-like supports with a metal top, which may have been gilded. This technique, as well as the majolica facade cladding, was used by the master of Austrian Art Nouveau Otto Wagner in his "Majolica House" on Linke Wienzeile Street.

In addition to the main panel, the house is adorned with ceramic friezes that seem to "string" the windows of the fourth and fifth floors. The relief tiles of "fish" were made according to a sketch by Mikhail Vrubel.

The house features characteristic Art Nouveau protruding canopies, bay windows, and balconies. Housing with a bay-window room was considered prestigious.

The metal framing of the facade includes wrought iron elements in the balcony railings, elements of the parapet lattice on the roof supporting the shaped attic, and an elegant canopy above the balcony.

Some architectural details of the facade were lost during reconstructions in the 1930s-1970s. The wrought iron parapet lattice along the cornice and the relief framing above the attic cornice have disappeared, making it appear simpler and unfinished. Other losses are also noticeable in Ivan Mashkov's design.

Over the years, furnished apartments were home to conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre Y.F. Fayer, actress E.N. Gogoleva, and opera singer E.I. Zbrueva. On the first floor were an Italian publishing house and the "Dante Alighieri" reading room, the trading house "Sherer Nabgolts and Co," as well as a restaurant. Since the 1960s, part of the building has been occupied by the design company "Mospromt-3." After a recent restoration, the building has regained its appearance from that time. The income house of M.V. Sokol is recognized as a regional architectural monument.