House number 20 on Prechistenka in Moscow stands out among the other buildings in the quarter. Over its more than two hundred years of existence, it has changed many owners, including significant historical figures. The first owner of this remarkable house was the noblewoman Elizabeth Orlova. She commissioned the architect Kazakov, known for his preference for classicism, to design the building. As a result, the estate acquired strict and refined features. Elizabeth Orlova was passionate about numismatics and amassed an extensive library, but local residents remembered her more for the antics of her servants. One of the maids, named Matryoshka, often dressed in unusual costumes, approached the fence, and entertained passersby with jokes.

After Orlova's death, the estate was acquired by the famous commander Alexei Yermolov. Unlike the previous owner, he led a modest and quiet life, occasionally sharing stories of his military exploits with guests. In the early 20th century, the building was significantly remodeled when it was purchased by the merchant and millionaire Alexei Ushkov. He was in love with his second wife, the ballerina Alexandra Balashova, and ordered a design for a mirror hall with a ballet barre for her convenience. The interiors left from Yermolov were also altered: rooms in Roman, Pompeian, and Moorish styles were added. Balashova and Ushkov lived here until the 1920s, after which they decided to emigrate from Russia.

The vacated house was handed over to the dancer Isadora Duncan. At Prechistenka, she taught girls to dance and sometimes organized free lunches. This period of her life was marked by a tumultuous romance with Sergei Yesenin, who likely visited this house often. Later, the building was finally nationalized and transferred to the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. It now houses the main department for servicing the diplomatic corps of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.