He studied at the local realschule and a private art school, operated by Maria Raevskaia-Ivanova.
[3] In 1882, he enrolled in the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he studied with David Grimm and Alexander Krakau [ru]; graduating in 1888 with a degree in architecture.
During that same period, he worked with Maximilian Messmacher on several projects, including the palace of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich.
[4] In 1894, he was awarded the title of "Academician" for his work on what is now known as the Kharkiv Korolenko State Scientific Library.
He was married to Anna Alchevska (1868-1931), daughter of the industrialist, Aleksey Alchevsky and his wife, Khrystyna, an advocate for national education.