The history of the development of the site where the mansion is located dates back to the 17th century. It is believed that the chambers, which became the foundation of the main building, were erected at that time. In 1751, the land with the buildings was owned by collegiate assessor I.T. Rakhmanov. Under him, the site was conditionally divided into two parts, each representing an independent complex. Later, in 1756 and 1764, the owner was mentioned as fleet captain I.L. Bukhvostov. In 1778, the new owner was S.S. Sulima, who combined the previously independent plots.

For almost the entire 19th century, from 1809 to 1872, the estate belonged to the ancient merchant family of Kotov. The estate consisted of a two-story stone main house with a western wing of service rooms and a two-story stone wing, to which a small wooden utility building was attached from the east. Behind the main house was a long utility building, and at the back of the site was a garden with a pavilion.

During the fire of 1812, the main house survived, but the other buildings were severely damaged. Before the French invasion, on September 1, 1812, the Kotovs left for Yaroslavl and returned to Moscow only at the end of the year. After their return, the main house was reconstructed and received a new mezzanine floor. In the 1860s, the building was rebuilt again, changing the rhythm and number of windows.

In 1872, the Kotov estate was purchased by the famous Moscow industrialist of German descent, Gustav Ivanovich List. His factory on Petrovka, which produced fire-fighting equipment, burned down in 1870. This prompted him to acquire a new site and resume production. The new Sofia Mechanical Plant opened in May 1874. In the 1870s, at List's direction, the construction of new factory buildings began on the former Kotov estate. The main building and the wing were preserved, but the utility buildings of the estate were gradually demolished. In their place and in the place of the garden, factory buildings appeared. At that time, cast-iron sculptures of craftsmen: a blacksmith and a foundry worker were installed on the pylons of the entrance gates.

After 1917, the Sofia Mechanical Plant was nationalized and received new names: Factory No. 8, 'Hydrophilter', 'Red Torch', VNIIV 'Kholodmash'.

The main estate house, preserved during the Soviet period, has been recognized as a cultural heritage site. Currently, LLC 'Mitten' is conducting reconstruction of the buildings while preserving the historical appearance of the facades.