The building in Odessa is known by several names: the Witch's House, the Flat House, the Card House, the Wall House, the House of Shadows. However, its uniqueness lies not in the number of nicknames but in its unusual architecture. From the side, it appears flat, making it hard to understand how apartments are arranged within. In reality, this is an optical illusion; the house is spacious and wide. There are several explanations for why this happened.

One version states that in 1889, Odessa banker Rafailovich decided to build a rental house in the city center. However, there was little free land, and he acquired a plot of irregular shape. The architects pondered for a long time on how to fit a large building on a narrow lot and ultimately decided to construct it triangularly, angling the side walls sharply. This creates the impression of flatness. According to another, simpler version, the architects, being intoxicated, made a design mistake, and the urban planning official did not notice the blunder. Another hypothesis suggests that Rafailovich simply lacked the funds for a complete building with four walls.

The Flat House attracts attention primarily due to its optical illusion, and not everyone notices its facade, which is quite beautiful. The building is executed in an eclectic style, with balconies featuring curvilinear shapes, entrances adorned with polychrome Italian plaster resembling marble, and a painted ornamental frieze visible above the cornices. During the Soviet era, many decorations were destroyed in the fight against architectural excesses. After the Civil War, the house was nationalized and turned into communal housing.

In 2012, Odessa almost lost this unique landmark. Although there were no plans to demolish the building, a shopping center was set to be constructed nearby, which could have destroyed the optical illusion of the Flat House. Thanks to the efforts of local heritage protectors, the building was preserved and recognized as a monument of cultural heritage in the city of Odessa.