On the outskirts of Moscow, near Novoslobodskaya Street, a building was erected in 1907 based on the design by architect A.U. Zelenko for one of the most interesting educational institutions of pre-revolutionary Russia.

The layout of the building, based on the free organization of internal spaces, was maximally adapted for children's life. From the outside, the building resembled a medieval toy castle with a variety of rounded, rectangular, and angular shapes that merged into a whole, creating elastic and sculptural forms. The external walls had a rough, textured surface, and windows of different shapes were arranged in a random order, corresponding to the character and sizes of the rooms. The dynamics and expressiveness of the architecture make this building a rare example of the romantic style of Art Nouveau at its late stage of development.

In 1903-1904, A. Zelenko, also known for the design of P.V. Loskov's mansion, made a round-the-world trip. In America, he became interested in educational methods and pedagogy. In Moscow, he met with the young educator S.T. Shatsky, and together they created the 'Settlement' society, inspired by American communities for youth education.

With funds raised among the merchant class, a plot of land was purchased in the Sushchevskaya part of Moscow, where a house with classrooms, clubs, a library, a theater, and a children's observatory was built, equipped by mathematician and astronomer M.V. Vasnetsov. Over the years, the observatory was led by renowned scientists K.L. Baev, A.A. Mikhailov, and P.I. Popov.

In 1908, the 'Settlement' was closed by the authorities, who believed that the founders were trying to introduce socialism among children. Zelenko and Shatsky were arrested but soon released due to lack of evidence. Zelenko went to America, while Shatsky resumed the institution's work under the name of the 'Child Labor and Recreation' society, which became popular in Moscow as a self-managed school and kindergarten for the poor.

After 1917, it housed the 'First Experimental Station for Public Education,' and in 1918, Shatsky created the 'School of Joy' (later School No. 204 named after Gorky), where special attention was paid to the emotional coloring of education. Among the students was Liliana Lungina, the translator of 'Malysh and Karlson.'

In 1936, the school moved, and a district pioneer house opened in the building. In the late 1990s, the building was renovated for business use, and its appearance changed significantly: the texture of the walls was replaced with smooth plaster, chimney pipes disappeared, and wooden window frames were replaced with double-glazed windows.