The ancient city of Vyborg has long been under strong cultural influence from Germany, which continued even after these lands became part of the Russian Empire and lasted until the formation of independent Finland. Among the architectural monuments associated with the German diaspora and built during the era of the Russian Empire, many masterpieces have survived to this day. One of them is the four-story Buttenhoff merchant house, built in 1898.

The mansion, designed in the neo-Renaissance style, was created by the outstanding Finnish-Swedish architect Johan Blomqvist. This building became the largest in its block and stood out against the backdrop of the surrounding development.

By that time, the merchant family of Buttenhoffs was known far beyond Vyborg. Emil Buttenhoff, the owner of the house, spared no expense in decorating the mansion, using a variety of architectural elements. As a result, it became a magnificent building with luxurious decor. Three floors were rented out, while the first floor housed the largest wine shop in the city, owned by the merchant family.

The homeowner's family occupied one of the apartments on the upper floors and lived there until the upheavals of the 20th century. Unfortunately, after the city came under Soviet control in 1944, some parts of the richly decorated walls were lost. The mansion underwent destructive renovations, but its external historical appearance has largely been preserved to this day.