Rocks and glass houses don’t typically go hand in hand.
But a home with a completely glass exterior that’s built into the rocky terrain below Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder has been listed for $3.99 million.
“With open space on two sides, you have a feeling of being right in the middle of a park with no one else around you,” said Goodacre & Co. listing agent Jane Stebbins.
Despite its transparent facade, privacy isn’t an issue for this property.
That’s because accessing the 5,026-square-foot home requires a steep drive up a narrow road.
“I would say 99.9 percent of people in Boulder don’t even know that road exists,” Stebbins said.
And, the home is situated just below Boulder’s Blue Line, a charter amendment enacted in 1959 that restricts domestic, commercial and industrial development above a certain elevation.
That means no future development will threaten the home’s seclusion — or the views.
“There are literally no window coverings on half the windows because other properties can’t look into the house at all,” Stebbins said.
The home, which was completed in 2008, took award-winning architect Thomas Phifer roughly two years to design. Construction took Boulder contractor Tim Harrington another two years.
A minimalist theme is carried through each room. The white interior and concrete floors starkly contrast with the 360-degree views of cityscapes, lush open spaces and Boulder’s famous Flatirons.
“You’ve got all sorts of wildlife, so it’s like being in a Disney movie,” said global media and entertainment broker John Cabell, the owner of the house. “When it snows, it’s like you’re in a snow globe.”
Phifer designed the property with the environment in mind.
The home’s temperature is controlled by an energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling system.
The environment also played a role in the aesthetic of the property.
“On a blue-sky day with cumulous clouds, the clouds reflect on the glass exterior,” Stebbins said. “The exterior then reflects into the sky. House and sky literally become one.”
Cabell said that’s been his favorite part of living there.
“At certain times of the day, given the light when you’re on the west, north or south sides, it disappears,” he said. “It’s like a mirage in a way.”
A similar principal applied to the landscaping around the property. The house is surrounded by natural grasses, wildflowers, aspen trees and other native foliage.
“It’s naturally one with the surroundings,” Stebbins said.
Katy Canada: 303-954-1043, kcanada@denverpost.com or @KatySusanna
