Born and raised in Venice, California, Sarah Jacoby combines a West Coast fascination of light and space with an appreciation of New York’s architectural history. Since founding the her eponymous firm – Sarah Jacoby Architect – in 2014, she’s worked on many project types, including new construction, renovation, houses, brownstones, and apartments that meet the ever-changing needs of her clients. Sarah designs to build, bringing a passion for resolving architectural problems with her to every design. Before launching SJA, Sarah had the chance to work at several leading firms, including Adjaye Associates, SOM, and Rogers Marvel, designing and building residential, commercial, and public projects throughout the New York City region and around the U.S. She carefully listens to clients, and her ability to translate their interests and desires into designed environments has resulted in many successful projects of different scales.
Today, Sarah Jacoby joins us for Friday Five!
1. Glass Blocks
I love the cyclical nature of design, and I have a fondness for certain relics of the past that seem to be making a comeback. One of the things I enjoy most about glass blocks in architecture is their versatility: they are right at home within an interior space or on the facade of a building. Whenever possible, I try to suggest innovative ways to incorporate glass block into our projects – sometimes successfully for our forward-thinking clients!
2. Lost Quarry
Craft is a core part of our process as designers, so I’m always eager to seek out designers and makers who are inventive in their approach to making design objects. I discovered the work of Lost Quarry a few years ago, and have loved watching their practice expand. Primarily focused on creating unique ceramic objects and materials, I think they are one of the best ceramic studios in the region.
3. Electric Bike
My Kalkhoff electric bike has been a huge asset to me, especially during the early stages of the COVID pandemic when public transportation was challenging. As my projects are all over New York City, around Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, sometimes the fastest way to get from project to project is on my bike!
4. NYC Ferry
One of my favorite ways to get around the city is by ferry. In recent years, the ferry system has drastically improved, with many new lines being added to expand the footprint of their route to new sections of the city that originally had much less accessible public transit. I am very passionate about design equity, and this cheap and enjoyable way of providing the public this form of transportation is very exciting. Plus, I can park my bike on the front of the boat!
5. Amy Sillman
I am a big fan of the work of Amy Sillman, who I think is one of the most inventive artists of our generation. Her work is full of dualities, and her various modes of art making are expansive and entirely singular in her execution. She is also a maker of zines and books, and I recently added this one to my library, which provides me with endless fascination and curiosity.