The original design is attributed by Soprani to Bartolomeo Bianco, based on a number of factors such as location of the palazzo, ownership by the Balbi, style and period. Recently this theory was supported when a number of documents were found, in which the owners, Giacomo and Pantaleo Balbi, commissioned the architect for his appraisal of the options available for the palazzo, a process started in March 1618. Bianco opted for the architectural style most deeply rooted in Genoese tradition, the simple pre-Alessio cube, but did make certain changes as to its substance.