Edwin Otho Sachs [also known as Edwin Otto Sachs] was born in Marylebone, Middlesex [now London], England on 5 April 1870. After studying architecture at the Königliche Technische Hochschule in Berlin, he returned to England in 1892 and commenced independent practice in London. He was in partnership with Ernest Augustus Eckett Woodrow (1860-1897) from 1895 to 1897. From 1902 he was also in partnership with George Spencer Hoffman (1875-1950).
Sachs was Consulting Architect to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, and was Hon. Member of Imperial Russian Institute of Architects and various other foreign architectural and technical bodies.
Sachs was an authority on fire-prevention, particularly with regard to theatre buildings. and in 1897 formed the British Fire Prevention Committee. He was also Vice-President of the International Fire Service Council from 1897 to 1919.
He was the author of "Modern Opera Houses and Theatres", 1890-98; "Stage Construction", 1898; "Fire and Public Entertainments". 1897; "Fire Protection on Board Ship''; "The Charity Bazaar Fire", 1897; "What Is Fire Protection?" 1898; " Facts of Fire Prevention", 1902; "The International Fire Exhibition". 1903; "The Iroquois Theatre Fire", 1908; " the Baltimore Fire", 1904; "The Brussels Exhibition Fire", 1910; "Fire Protection in Central Europe", 1904; "Fire Protection In Italy", 1906; " Fire Protection in Northern Germany", 1909; "Fire Protection in Paris", 1911; numerous essays and articles for the technical Press; papers before Royal Institute of British Architects, Architectural Association and various other societies; served as delegate and read papers before numerous architectural and technical congresses.
Sachs exhibited once at the Royal Academy in London on 9 September 1902. In addition to his work as an architect, Sachs was also an amateur magician and Vice-President of the Magic Circle in 1906 and in 1907 became a Member of the Inner Magic Circle.
His address was given as 3 Waterloo Place, Marylebone, Middlesex [now London] in 1895 and 1905; 7 Waterloo Place, Marylebone, Middlesex [now London] in 1903; and Waterloo Place, Marylebone, Middlesex [now London] and South Foreland House, Pall Mall, London in 1914. He died at his home, 5 Ulster Terrace, Regent's Park, London on 9 September 1919.
Architect to Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (reconstructed 1898-1903); Architect to Egyptian Government for Khedival Opera House; consulting architect to various foreign Governments and municipalities for theatres; Walmer Place, Walmer; Siemens' works, Dalston; asbestos works, Hlgham; Samson Mansion (Hotel Samson), Brussels, &c, &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z.. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
'Obituary'. The Builder 12 September 1919 pp. 260, 286.
‘On fire!: a chat with Mr. Edwin Sachs’. Builders' Journal 2 April 1895 pp. 115–116
‘Reconstruction of the opera stage: a chat with Mr Edwin Sachs’. The Sketch 3 April 1901 p. 426
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Wilmore, David. Edwin O. Sachs: Architect, Stagehand, Engineer & Fireman. His Life and His Satellites in Celebration of the Centenary of ‘Modern Opera Houses and Theatres’. Summerbridge: Theatresearch, 1998