Nikolai Nikitich Durbach, a renowned architect from Nakhichevan and Rostov-on-Don, was born in 1857 or 1858 to an Armenian family. His father was a merchant and lived in the village of Yelizavetinskaya. The exact birthplace of Durbach is unknown: according to some sources, he was born in Yelizavetinskaya, while others claim it was in Nakhichevan.

Nikolai received secondary and initial artistic education in Nakhichevan, and in 1876 he enrolled in the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Arts. Despite having well-off parents, he initially studied at the city's expense, later starting to pay for his education himself by earning money. However, he soon had to switch to free listener status due to a lack of funds. In February 1886, he graduated from the academy with a diploma as a 'non-class artist with the right to construct buildings.'

After completing his studies, Durbach returned home and immediately began working in his field. From 1886 to 1889, he was involved in the construction of residential houses and buildings in Nakhichevan, Rostov-on-Don, Azov, and Mariupol. On March 12, 1889, he submitted a request for appointment as the city architect of Nakhichevan, and by April 5, he began his duties with a one-year probationary period. After the term, he was confirmed in the position indefinitely.

As city architect, Nikolai Durbach actively followed the planning principles laid out in the first city plan of 1781. In 1894, he met with Professor Alexander Nikanorovich Pomerantsev from the Academy of Arts, who brought a project for the City Duma and Administration building to Rostov. This meeting significantly influenced the plans of both architects for the city's development.

Over the years, Durbach created numerous buildings in Nakhichevan and Rostov-on-Don, including the Ekaterininskaya Women's Gymnasium, the Moskovskaya Hotel, the City Nakhichevan Theater, and the Alexandrovskaya Column in the garden of the same name. Most of his constructions are included in the cultural heritage list.

In addition to his architectural work, Nikolai Nikitich was involved in public activities. On March 12, 1897, he was elected as a member of the Nakhichevan City Duma, and he was subsequently elected to this position five times until 1917. He was also a member of the City Housing Tax Presence and the Board of Trustees of the Nakhichevan Vocational School. In 1902, he received the rank of college registrar, and in 1905, he became a college secretary. For his merits, he was awarded the Orders of Saint Svyatoslav and Saint Anna.

In 1913, Durbach left his post as city architect after twenty-five years of service. With the onset of the Civil War, he withdrew from public life, not accepting the Soviet power. In the early 1920s, his health deteriorated, and on September 23, 1924, he passed away at the age of 66.

For a long time, Nikolai Durbach's grave was in a neglected state, but it has recently been restored and a monument has been erected. In December 1999, in memory of the outstanding architect, memorial plaques were unveiled on the building of the Rostov Regional Academic Youth Theater. Thus, the name of Nikolai Durbach is gradually returning to the city where he left a significant mark.