In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he was a major designer of royal and municipal buildings in Athens, Patras, and other Greek cities.

[1][2] Ziller was born in the rural community of Serkowitz in the district of Radebeul in the Kingdom of Saxony.

After graduating from the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts in 1858, he went to work for Danish architect Theophilus Hansen.

In 1872 he was appointed a professor at the Royal School of Arts, now National Technical University of Athens.

Now known as the Ziller mansion, the residence was later acquired by Greek banker Dionysios P. Loverdos (1878–1934).