In Moscow, there are not many historical buildings associated with icon-painting workshops and famous Russian icon painters, especially when talking about the period of the 15th-17th centuries. One of the surviving buildings to this day is the chambers of the royal icon painter Simon Ushakov.

The chambers as a type of stone structure appeared in Moscow architecture in the 15th century and were actively built in the 16th century. However, the most mass construction occurred in the mid-17th century. These vaulted stone buildings could be one or two stories high, and less frequently three stories, distinguished by facade decor that combined elements of 'Russian ornamentation' and Moscow baroque. Such chambers were erected in the 1650s-1670s on a site that belonged to merchant Ivan Chulkov in Ipatiev Lane in the mid-17th century.

In 1652, these merchant chambers were transferred to the leading icon painter of the Moscow school, the 'royal icon painter' Simon Fyodorovich Ushakov. It is believed that he was nicknamed Simon, while his real name was Pimen. In these chambers, he organized his icon-painting workshop.

Simon Ushakov became a key figure in the history of Russian icon painting, standing at the crossroads of eras. He facilitated the transition from ancient Russian icons, associated with the names of Theophanes the Greek, Andrei Rublev, and Dionysius, to a period of Europeanization of art and the emergence of 'Friazhsky' icons characterized by realism. His talent lay in his ability to combine these two eras in his work.

The chambers of that time represented a three-story building, where the two upper floors were residential, and the lower floor included a cellar that connected four vaulted chambers with white stone wall cladding. Nearby was a wing connected to the chambers by a gate with three arches, above which was a passage.

The facade of the chambers was adorned with stone frames in the form of assembled columns and a keel-shaped finish, characteristic of 'Russian ornamentation.' The main facade faced the courtyard, not the lane. In this building, Ushakov spent the last 11 years of his life.

In the early 19th century, the vaults of the second and third floors were destroyed, new windows and doorways were cut, changing the appearance of the building beyond recognition.

The modern appearance of the chambers is the work of restorers. In 1956, architect-restorer Pyotr Baranovsky conducted a preliminary examination of the monument, and in 1962-1963, a more detailed one. In 1982, based on these studies, restoration was carried out. Architects I. Kazakevich and E. Zhavoronkova restored the original appearance of the building. Based on the 'tails' of bricks found in the wall masonry, the decor of the second-floor windows was recreated. Today, the building houses the treasury and is a monument of federal significance.