Christian IV's mother-in-law Ellen Marsvin constructed a large, Renaissance-style house at the site in the 17th century.

It was later used for housing the Swedish military officer Magnus Stenbock during his five years in Danish captivity.

The new corner building (Højbro Plads 21) was constructed on the foundation of the old house in 1798–1799 by Andreas Hallander for merchant (grosserer) Friderich Christian Friderici.

The owner Friderich Christian Friderici resided in the building with his wife Maria Elisabeth Hendrichsen, their two sons (aged two and four), his mother-in-law Anne Maria Hendrichsen, a textile merchant (employee), a merchant's apprentice, three office clerks (employees), three trainees, one male servant, two maids, a seamstress, a wet nurse, a coachman and a caretaker.

[2][3] Johan Christian Peetz, a junk dealer, resided in the building with his wife Kirstine Bakke and their four children (aged seven to 17),[4] Johann Hansen, a canvas merchant (lærredshandler), resided in the building with his wife Maren Børresen, their two-year-old daughter, one male servant and one maid.

[6] James Frerral, a merchant, resided in the building with his wife Maria Hassel, their 11 children (aged one to 21), a governess, four maids, a male servant, a female cook and a caretaker.

[8] Pauvl Schouv, a flour merchant, resided on the ground floor with his wife Christine Eriksen, their nine children (aged 12 to 21), one male servant and one maid.

[9] Jacob Christensen, a restaurateur, resided on the first floor with his wife Marie Larsen, their three children (aged four to five), one lodger, one male servant and one maid.

[10] Samuel Heilbuth, a Jewish merchant (grosserer) and court broker, resided on the first floor with his wife Henriette Ahrensen, four of their children (aged 20 to 26), a six-year-old granddaughter, an office housekeeper and a maid.

[13] Vallentin Vulff, a bookkeeper, resided on the third floor with his wife Sara Heilbuth, their five children (aged one to eight) and two maids.

[16] Hans Haral Gram, a brick-layer, resided in the basement with his wife Ane Marie Møller and their three children (aged one to six).

Other friends of the family, who would often also attend the Thursday dinners, included the painters Carl Bloch and Frederik Christian Lund, poet and museum administrator Carl Andersen and representatives of the press such as Dagbladet editor C. St. A. Bille, journalists Robert Watt and P. "Cabiro" Hansen and publisher and editor of Fædrelandet ('The Fatherland') Carl Ploug.

Hirschspring was the owner of a large art collection and his home was frequented by artists such as Vilhelm Marstrand, Peder Severin Krøyer, Vermehren and Anna and Michael Ancher.