The income house, typical for pre-revolutionary Moscow, was built by the renowned engineer Nirnzee, who also created the first Moscow skyscraper on Bolshoy Gnizdnikovsky Lane. On the merchant outskirts of Moscow, the house of Y.I. Klimov was lower, only four and five stories, but still stood out against the backdrop of one- and two-story buildings from the 19th century.

Architecturally, it was housing for the middle class of the Russian Empire, people who could afford spacious apartments with a service staircase, plumbing, and rooms for servants, but did not have the means or desire for a separate mansion. The house is adorned with several angular bay windows, and the corners and walls of the lower floors are finished with rustication. The light window frames stood out against the originally dark plaster. In the style of the building, Art Nouveau gives way to Neoclassicism, and overall it features strict decor.

During the Soviet era, the house was transformed into communal apartments, and closer to the end of the century, it was vacated and became home to the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, known as GITIS, with faculties of scenography and musical theatre. Despite the new purpose, the large living apartments were well-suited for conversion into rehearsal rooms.