Pozdeyev, a graduate of Imperial Academy of Arts, already had five years of practice as the town architect of Yaroslavl, where Igumnov had substantial investments in textile mills.
Halfway through the project, in 1888,[2] architect and the client agreed to discard the existing structure altogether and redesign the building from scratch; its dimensions, as built, increased to 45×33 meters.
[3] After 13 years of slow progress the building attracted public attention and became a target of numerous art critics, detesting its pseudo-Russian luxury; whether for this reason or due to sheer greed, Igumnov refused to compensate cost overruns to Pozdeyev; the ruined architect committed suicide in October 1893.
[citation needed] After the October Revolution the nationalised building was taken over by a communal club, then by medical institutions.
45) was built on an adjacent block in 1979; since that year, Igumnov House became an official residence of the ambassador.