The two-story Baroque-style house was built on September 1, 1887, according to the design of architect A. Shimkevich. On December 17, 1900, a small building was constructed on the free land adjacent to the south of the house, also based on the architect’s design. While both projects followed the same style, the façade of the second building features a more interesting design, decorated with devilish masks, including Mephistopheles with a goat’s beard and a dog. It is unknown whose idea these images were – the homeowner’s or the architect’s. Georgian press has speculated on this. Here are a few quotes: “Yuzbashev was a Satan worshiper, and that’s why he placed his 'god' on the façade of the house. Moreover, he did this to frighten the admirers of his daughter, a woman of ill repute, and to make her miserable.” “The house was built by the wealthy merchant Amiran Nikogayosov. The mystical spirit of the house brought misfortune to dozens of its inhabitants, and it was on this street that a Georgian shed the blood of another Georgian.” “One of the houses was built by the architect Yuzbash. He had connections with Russian Duma members – Freemasons. Therefore, he adorned the façade with 'symbols of misfortune.'” “Shimkevich and Yuzbash were members of a secret Masonic lodge. A. Shimkevich built the house after reading the famous novel by Bulgakov, 'Master and Margarita.'” In the mid-1890s, the house became the residence of the Armenian Women's Charitable Society. Later, the house passed to the oil magnate, philanthropist, and chairman of the Tiflis Mutual Assistance Society, David-bek Anan-Yuzbashyan (the aforementioned Yuzbash). Here are a few examples of his charitable activities: He purchased the library of the famous historian A. Yeritsyan and donated it to Echmiadzin. As a trustee of the Tiflis Real School, he allocated 10,000 rubles for its construction. He contributed 40,000 rubles for the new building of the Echmiadzin Library, 6,000 rubles to the Tiflis Mutual Assistance Society, and more. Yuzbashyan also bought the remarkable building of the Tiflis Artistic Society from the heirs of the renowned industrialist and nobleman I. Pitoyev (Pitoyan) and supported the development of the Armenian theater. The Yuzbashyan family suffered a great loss: in 1916, their son, officer Gurgen Aven-Yuzbashyan of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoons, was killed on the Mesopotamian front. In his memory, the Armenian philanthropist made a significant charitable contribution: he donated 10,000 rubles to the medical faculty of the Higher Women's Courses to establish an auditorium named after his deceased son, and more. In the spacious yard of the house, David Yuzbashyan founded a children’s club. In late July 1920, an international club was established here, which became known as the “Big Shadow Club.” Unfortunately, after the establishment of the Menshevik government, the situation turned unfavorable. At a meeting of the City Duma, it was decided to confiscate the building of the Artistic Society from Yuzbashyan and transfer it to the Georgian theater (now the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Drama Theater). David Yuzbashyan’s family was forced to flee abroad – to France. In the spring of 1921, in the now vacant house, the Armenian Art House (“Ayartun”) was established, thanks to the initiative of Ovanes Tumanyan, in honor of the prominent Armenian poet Vahan Teryan. This idea was not accidental: the owner of the house used to rent it out to theatrical figures on Mondays, so a serious tradition for practices and events had already existed. The new cultural hub was led by Ovanes Tumanyan until his death. It included various associations, circles, studios, and sections: the Union of Armenian Writers, the “Komitas” association, the Union of Armenian Artists and Architects, and more. The music section was headed by the well-known musicologist Romanos Melikyan, solfège and rhythm classes were taught by A. Mamikonyan, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Rhythm, the artists’ section was led by Grigol Sharbabchyan, the theater by Stepan Kapanakyan, and the writers' by Ovanes Tumanyan. The building also housed the polyclinic of the Georgian Writers’ House (chief physician: G. Magakyan). The building became the editorial office for the Communist Party of Georgia and the newspaper Martakoch. In 1926, it was renamed Proletar (its founder and publisher was A. Miasnikov). The building also hosted the editorial office of the newspaper Gorts (publisher and editor: A. Doshoyan). The activities of this cultural center and the revival of Armenian culture caused concern among dark forces led by L. Beria. Therefore, in the 1930s, by his order, “Ayartun” was closed and turned into a residential building. Notable residents included the People's Artist of the Georgian SSR, Socrat Kirakosyan, People's Artists Mariam Modjorian and Venera Akopyan, People's Artist Vagharchak Elibekyan, and writers Mkrtych Aslanyan, Benik Seyranyan, Manush Ashchyan, and Koryun Azroyan, among others. The building’s unique façade and vestibule caught the attention of the "Georgia-Film" studio and it appeared in the 1965 short film Wedding. In 1988, the building was granted the status of a local architectural monument. Unfortunately, today no Armenian families live in this famous house.