The house of Laval, located on the promenade des Anglais, 4, is one of the outstanding monuments of Russian architecture of the turn of the 18-VV. The land for this building, which extends to the red streets, as well as the adjacent land was owned by A. D. Menshikov, the first St. Petersburg Governor. Stone house for Menshikov was built in the 20-ies of the 18th century, When Menshikov fell into disgrace, his house became the property of the Vice-Chancellor Osterman, A. I. and When he was subjected to disgrace and was exiled, Elizabeth gave this house to the General saltykhov V. F. At the end of the 18th century the house was owned by the Stroganov, A. N., and then his son, G. A. Stroganov In the 90s of the 18th century, the building was subjected to a radical restructuring under the project of A. N. Voronikhin.

In the early 19th century, the house was purchased by the Countess Laval, A. G., By her order, the house was rebuilt by the architect Thomas de Thomon, who altered the house and outside, and inside. So he survived. The main facade of the building facing the waterfront, he designed the colonnade of ten three-quarter ionic columns that unite the second and third floors. Above the three Windows on the facade of the building is stucco mythological murals. Crowns the house stepped attic, not a traditional gable. Clearly adjusted proportion of horizontal division of the facade, calm rhythm of the colonnade, which ends stepped attic, give the house a Grand and solemn look.

Interest and interior design of the house of Laval, which is partly preserved from 1810-gg. In many areas survived grisaille (painting moulding). Artistic value is finishing the Blue hall, which is made according to the architect G. A. Bosse in the 1840s

Most successfully resolved the lobby and Grand staircase. The lobby of the house of Laval adorn powerful Doric columns and pilasters without bases. The premise of the main staircase is decorated more elegantly and richly. It is a domed rotunda with caissons, which are decorated with stucco rosettes and stars. Great hall designed by N. Charpentier. It covers the mirror arch with polychrome painting, which is supported by columns. Painting made by artists Bessonov and V. Medici.

10-ies of the 19th century Laval's house was the center of cultural life of St. Petersburg. In the exhibition hall housed a collection of ancient sculpture, the largest in all of Russia. In the hall of paintings housed the art collection of the Renaissance. A separate room was reserved for a large library, a collection which in addition to the books included engravings and maps.

In the literary salon of the Countess Laval held musical and literary evenings, where invited known in the capital of poets, musicians, writers, artists. Their works were read Karamzin and Pushkin. Among the guests of this house were Alexander Griboyedov, Ivan Krylov, Nikolai Gnedich, Vasily Zhukovsky, Adam Mickiewicz, Pyotr Vyazemsky. Within these walls before the uprising of 1825, the Decembrists were going.

Techniques, literary soirees, balls, art exhibitions, concerts lasted until the couple Laval were alive. In 1846 died Ivan Stepanovich, and died in 1850 and his wife, Alexandra Grigorievna. The house was owned by their middle daughter Sophia, who married count A. M. Borja. To maintain such a mansion spouses could not afford. Therefore, in 1872. the mansion was sold to a famous millionaire and banker Samuel Polyakov, who acquired their capital in the construction of Railways. In 1911. his heirs, the house was purchased by the Treasury to accommodate documents of the Senate.

After the revolution, this building housed the Central state historical archive, which was established in 1925 and included the archives of the Synod and the Senate funds other higher institutions in the state of pre-revolutionary period. Soviet documents gathered in other archives.

During the great Patriotic war, home Laval was significant damage, subsequently it was restored many times. Its modern look, the building was purchased thanks to the reconstruction, which lasted about two years. Were restored molding, fireplaces, painting, flooring, metal decoration, gilt. The interior was equipped with modern means of communication and the necessary communications to ensure that there could begin its work, the constitutional court of the Russian Federation.