von Neff designed the building himself, with the aid of St. Petersburg architect Ludwig Bohnstedt, as well as, reputedly, Otto Pius Hippius, Alexander Brullov and David Grimm, all active in St. Petersburg. A concern was how to fit an enormous white marble staircase, a gift from the emperor Alexander II, into the building. The building received a sumptuous interior: terrazzo floors, marble and glazed fireplaces, painted walls and lunettes. Some of the walls were painted by his son, Heinrich.
