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Iosif ZengerSoviet architect
Date of Birth: 01.01.1867
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Content:
Early Life and Education
Iosif Zezzer was born in 1867 into a devout Jewish family in Ukraine. Initially destined for a religious education, Zezzer pursued engineering, which at the time provided the necessary qualifications for architecture. He went abroad to study in Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, gaining five years of practical experience before returning home.
Professional Career
After returning to his hometown, Zezzer established a technical and construction bureau in Kyiv and embarked on a successful career as a private architect. Following the Russian Revolution, he assumed the role of head of the repair and construction department for the city's municipal services.
Notable Projects
Zezzer was responsible for designing numerous notable buildings in Kyiv, including the Hospital for Emergency Care—a project he worked on even as he lay on his deathbed.
Tragic Death
In 1933, Zezzer was fatally struck by a tram. As he was taken to the hospital he had designed, he is said to have uttered his final words: "I have built a lot; let others continue." He died shortly after after refusing to wear an anesthesia mask.
