At the end of the 18th century, a romantically sentimental style came into fashion, imitating peasant life: literature and art celebrated the pure love of a shepherd and shepherdess, and "peasant" buildings were erected on the estates of noble dignitaries.

By order of Maria Feodorovna in 1782, near the palace, beyond the Bolshie Krugi, architect Charles Cameron built Charbonnier ("coalman's dwelling"), the so-called Milk House (Molochnya). This is a peasant house made of large boulders and covered with straw.

"Originally, this was the empress's farm, built by Cameron modeled after the "Milk House" in the estate of the Duke of Württemberg. Before the park was expanded, the Milk House was located at its very edge, but even then it was hidden in a thicket of trees. Cows from the stables built nearby would go straight into the forest towards Old Sylvia. The great princess took great care in arranging the Milk House, sending the architect a plan as a model. The Milk House looks like an Alpine cottage with a canopy for a bell. The straw roof protrudes significantly and is supported by wooden posts. The outer walls are laid with cobblestones."

Inside, the walls of the rooms were lined with faience tiles made in St. Petersburg at the Smirnov factory. Among the rooms, the most interesting was a small domed hall. Previously, the Milk House contained much porcelain, which was later moved to the palace. When Old Sylvia was established, the cattle yard at the Milk House was destroyed. The dairy farm was relocated to a farm.

Some rooms had a utilitarian purpose — intended for housing cows and storing milk. In the southwestern annex, there was a luxurious lounge for relaxation: walls draped with silk, elegant furniture, porcelain vases, and expensive dishes on marble shelves. There is a legend that Maria Feodorovna herself milked the cows and treated courtiers with black bread and milk.

In 1786, the cows were moved to a small cattle yard built nearby, and the Milk House was turned into a park pavilion for rest during walks. Multiple fires and the war destroyed all wooden parts and the interior decoration of the building.

Throughout its history, the Milk House burned several times and has not been preserved in its original form. As early as 1895, the roof along with the opening for the birch tree was lost in a fire. But even greater damage was inflicted on the building by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War. To date, the building has been restored externally, and a café has been set up inside.

Source:

https://www.spb-guide.ru/page_20108.htm

https://www.citywalls.ru/house25739.html