The six-story building No. 12 on Sivtsev VRAZHK, asymmetrical and without neighboring structures, resembles a sad castle. In 1914, the plot passed to Vladimir Nikolayevich Nikiforov, a juror broker of the Moscow Exchange, who owned many houses in Moscow. He lived on Prechistenka, and on this plot, he built an income house designed by V. Dubovsky and N. Arkhipov.

The foundation of the building repeated the shapes of the previous structure, which initially belonged to ensign N.A. Viktorina, then to the widow of provincial secretary A.N. Kazanskaya. Since 1896, the plot belonged to N.K. Lomov, the founder of accounting courses, who sold it to Nikiforov.

The house stands along the red line, with a grand entrance to the street and an arch leading to the courtyard. Two bay windows overlook Sivtsev VRAZHK.

Several dentists and journalist David Moiseevich Rozlovsky lived in Nikiforov's house. Writer and journalist E.G. Lundberg introduced him to Rozlovsky, who rented a room to Pasternak. Here, Pasternak lived for a year and a half under conditions of ruin, hunger, and terror. In October 1917, martial law was introduced in Moscow. In "Doctor Zhivago," Pasternak described these events, mentioning trenches and barricades in the streets.

During the fighting, the house on Volkhonka, where Pasternak's family lived, was damaged. The writer could not reach Sivtsev VRAZHK. In "The Protective Charter," he recalled Rozlovsky's apartment, describing its atmosphere and daily life.

In Rozlovsky's apartment, Pasternak wrote the story "Childhood of Luvers." During a bout of influenza known as the "Spanish flu," his mother took care of him. L.O. Pasternak sketched his son lying with a book. This period inspired Pasternak to create the poetic cycle "Illness," which was included in the book "Themes and Variations." The work on the cycle "Break" also dates back to this time.

The harsh conditions forced Pasternak to return to his parents' apartment to support the family. In 1919, the law "On Crowding" was adopted, and Boris became the "first free crowding tenant," renouncing his recently acquired independence.