Where Your Life Leads,
Our Design Follows
ABOUT JAFFE ARCHITECTURE
Where Your Life Leads,
Our Design Follows
ABOUT JAFFE ARCHITECTURE
Lisa Jaffe, Principal + Owner
AIA, LEED AP
Lisa Jaffe is the founder and principal of Jaffe Architecture, a Chicago-based practice recognized for sophisticated residential architecture that is rigorous, intuitive, and deeply livable. She believes meaningful architecture supports people in living their best lives through thoughtful restraint, careful scale, and spaces that feel deeply comfortable. With a disciplined design process and a collaborative ethos, Lisa leads each project with clarity, creativity, and a strong respect for how her clients want to live—resulting in homes that feel both timeless and distinctly personal.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her architectural education was shaped not only by formal study, but also by extensive travel throughout Italy, where she studied the work of master architects and the enduring relationship between classical proportion, craft, and contemporary life. These experiences continue to inform her approach to scale, materiality, and spatial clarity.
She began her professional career at several of Chicago’s most respected high-end residential architecture firms, developing a strong foundation in craft, proportion, and architectural detail. In 1997, an unexpected opportunity to design and build a new home in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood marked the beginning of the firm. More than two decades later, Jaffe Architecture has grown into a nationally and internationally recognized practice, sustained by long-standing client relationships and a reputation for thoughtful, enduring design.
Outside the studio, Lisa finds inspiration through travel, hiking, and the arts, and values time spent outdoors with her dog, Bailey. These pursuits continue to inform her architectural sensibility and reinforce a deep appreciation for the relationship between place, experience, and design.
Lisa Jaffe is the founder and principal of Jaffe Architecture, a Chicago-based practice recognized for sophisticated residential architecture that is rigorous, intuitive, and deeply livable. She believes meaningful architecture supports people in living their best lives through thoughtful restraint, careful scale, and spaces that feel deeply comfortable. With a disciplined design process and a collaborative ethos, Lisa leads each project with clarity, creativity, and a strong respect for how her clients want to live—resulting in homes that feel both timeless and distinctly personal. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her architectural education was shaped not only by formal study, but also by extensive travel throughout Italy, where she studied the work of master architects and the enduring relationship between classical proportion, craft, and contemporary life. These experiences continue to inform her approach to scale, materiality, and spatial clarity. She began her professional career at several of Chicago’s most respected high-end residential architecture firms, developing a strong foundation in craft, proportion, and architectural detail. In 1997, an unexpected opportunity to design and build a new home in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood marked the beginning of the firm. More than two decades later, Jaffe Architecture has grown into a nationally and internationally recognized practice, sustained by long-standing client relationships and a reputation for thoughtful, enduring design. Outside the studio, Lisa finds inspiration through travel, hiking, and the arts, and values time spent outdoors with her dog, Bailey. These pursuits continue to inform her architectural sensibility and reinforce a deep appreciation for the relationship between place, experience, and design.
Rachel Lindsey, Architect
Rachel Lindsey is a licensed architect with over 16 years of experience at Jaffe Architecture, where she plays an integral role in guiding projects from early vision through execution. Known for her thoughtfulness and thoroughness, Rachel approaches every project with care, clarity, and a deep commitment to her clients’ best interests. Her work is grounded in close collaboration, careful problem-solving, and a dedication to seeing each detail fully considered and well resolved. Rachel’s long tenure with the firm has given her a comprehensive understanding of the studio’s design philosophy, process, and standards. She is deeply invested in every project she touches, ensuring that each home reflects both architectural integrity and the unique needs of the people who will live there. She lives in Wilmette, Illinois, with her husband and two children and spends most of her free time with her family. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, jigsaw puzzles, and going to the beach.
LEED AP
Rachel Lindsey is a licensed architect with over 16 years of experience at Jaffe Architecture, where she plays an integral role in guiding projects from early vision through execution. Known for her thoughtfulness and thoroughness, Rachel approaches every project with care, clarity, and a deep commitment to her clients’ best interests. Her work is grounded in close collaboration, careful problem-solving, and a dedication to seeing each detail fully considered and well resolved.
Rachel’s long tenure with the firm has given her a comprehensive understanding of the studio’s design philosophy, process, and standards. She is deeply invested in every project she touches, ensuring that each home reflects both architectural integrity and the unique needs of the people who will live there.
She lives in Wilmette, Illinois, with her husband and two children and spends most of her free time with her family. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, jigsaw puzzles, and going to the beach.
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Spaces That Begin with Listening. And End with Belonging.
At Jaffe Architecture, our process is thoughtful, exacting, and quietly rigorous. It takes a great deal of effort to make something feel effortless, and that discipline guides every decision we make. Each project begins with careful listening and evolves through a disciplined design methodology shaped by experience, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of how our clients live. While collaboration is central, we assume responsibility for translating vision into architecture, guiding the work from concept through construction with clarity and intention.
Architecture and interiors are developed as a single, integrated idea. Decisions about space, proportion, material, and detail are made holistically, ensuring the finished home feels cohesive, considered, and enduring. Our role is to manage complexity, refine choices, and provide steady leadership throughout the process.
From the earliest conversations to final completion, we oversee every phase and every detail. Our clients experience a process that is organized, transparent, and carefully paced, resulting in a home that reflects both their lifestyle and our commitment to lasting design.
Our greatest reward is when our clients genuinely love coming home. We believe good design supports people in living their best lives, often through spaces that are thoughtful, efficient, and carefully scaled. We would rather design well and with intention than design big without purpose.
Goals and Visions
We love that our clients and their dream homes are unique. So before we do anything else, we ask you exactly what you want; we help you convey your desires and needs by prompting you with thought-provoking questions. What are your specific hopes for your home? What do you want to change in your house that will improve your lifestyle? We listen carefully. Because when we understand what you want, we’re able to design your custom home — one that reflects you and your life perfectly!
Feasibility Studies and Site Review
Pre-design defines the framework for the project. For new construction, this may include site evaluation, zoning research, and code analysis. For renovations, we study the existing structure to understand its potential and constraints. Feasibility studies allow us to assess options, test assumptions, and determine the most appropriate path forward before design begins.
Concept Development and Preliminary Planning
Schematic Design explores the architectural concept and spatial organization of the home. We examine circulation, scale, adjacencies, and how rooms support daily routines. Considerations such as storage, furniture layout, and art placement are introduced early, allowing function and aesthetics to develop together. Preliminary plans and a defined scope of work establish the overall direction of the project.
Refinement of Architecture and Interiors
During Design Development, the project is refined in detail. Proportions are finalized, materials are selected, and architectural elements such as millwork, lighting, and structural systems are carefully resolved. This phase brings clarity to both design intent and construction approach, enabling accurate pricing and informed decision making.
Detailed Drawings and Specifications
Construction Documents translate the design into a precise and buildable set of instructions. Detailed drawings and written specifications define materials, assemblies, and fine architectural decisions that influence both performance and character. Design Development and Construction Documents often overlap to maintain continuity and ensure accuracy. These documents form the basis for bidding and construction.
We coordinate a competitive and carefully managed bidding process with a select group of qualified contractors. Bids are reviewed for completeness and alignment with the design intent. We support contractor interviews and provide guidance to help you make a confident, informed selection.
Our involvement continues throughout construction. We act as your representative, maintaining design integrity, responding to questions, reviewing progress, and addressing conditions that arise in the field. Active oversight during this phase is essential to achieving the intended result and ensuring a well executed project.
Interior design is considered from the outset so architectural and interior decisions evolve together. We develop furniture plans and select finishes, lighting, window treatments, and coordinate art placement to complete the home. We offer full interior design services or collaborate closely with an interior designer of your choosing. In every case, the result is a composed, layered interior that supports the architecture and enhances daily life.
As LEED Accredited Professionals, we approach sustainability as an integral part of good design. Thoughtful renovation, durable materials, efficient building envelopes, and well considered systems contribute to long term performance and reduced environmental impact. Our goal is to create homes that are responsible, resilient, and designed to endure.
