After completing his secondary education at the Katharineum in 1849, he was apprenticed to Ferdinand von Arnim in Potsdam.
While attending, he worked with Friedrich August Stüler on his plans for the Berliner Dom.
When he studies were complete, he received temporary assignments, working on public structures, such as the Dirschauer Bridge [de], as well as managing the construction of residential buildings.
He and Hennicke designed residential and commercial buildings, as well as hotels, notably the Kaiserhof (1874) and the Central-Hotel [de], on Friedrichstraße.
He was interred at Cemetery IV of the Jerusalem and New Church Congregation [de], in Berlin's Kreuzberg district.