C-Glass House, by Deegan Day Design, is a modernist glass house, completed over a decade-long process and rooted in the client’s desire for minimal barriers between living spaces and the natural surroundings, is both a family retreat and an exploration of architectural transparency with a minimalist design that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living.
- Name: C-Glass House
- Bedrooms: 2
- Bathrooms: 3
- Size: 2,100 sq. ft.
- Lot: 57 acres
- Built: 2011
Perched on a remote elevated hilltop site with sweeping panoramic views of Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the C-Glass House in Marin County, California, is a masterful blend of minimalist architecture and environmental consciousness. Designed by Los Angeles-based Deegan Day Design, this 2,100-square-foot retreat draws inspiration from iconic structures like Philip Johnson’s Glass House and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. The design also pays homage to the pioneering work of California modernists such as Craig Ellwood and Pierre Koenig, integrating the natural surroundings with innovative architectural techniques. This glass house pushes the boundaries of transparency, allowing the coastal environment to become an integral part of the living experience.
The C-Glass House is built to withstand the rugged coastal climate, with winds reaching up to 100 miles per hour. The structure’s northern and western façades are outfitted with transparent windows and sliders set in steel framing, offering panoramic views of the ocean, while the southern and eastern façades use channel glass to blur and soften the views. The house’s energy-efficient features include a solar array, radiant heating, and a composting septic system, making it almost entirely off-grid. With the client’s deep connection to architectural history and her desire for minimal environmental impact, this project is as much an artistic statement as it is a functional residence.
Originally commissioned by Margarete Hachigian, a researcher at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, who sought to combine the open feel of a New York loft with the raw beauty of the California coast, C-Glass House has become a cherished retreat for her family. The design not only captures the essence of its dramatic coastal setting but also reflects a broader dialogue between architecture and the American landscape. Here, the boundaries between indoors and outdoors blur, creating a living space that is both deeply connected to its environment and profoundly shaped by it.
- Architect: Deegan Day Design
- Photography: Taiyo Watanabe
- Past Owner: Margarete Hachigian – Researcher Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York City
- Location: 3251 Dillon Beach Rd, Tomales, CA, USA
