Modern and Contemporary Homes with Glass Walls and Windows

Sometimes the setting steals the scene, and a house simply merges with its surroundings. As this collection of glass-walled homes proves, windows can completely transform the personality of a home—something once cozy and intimate becomes open and airy when windows are a main element. These modern and contemporary residences use glass to stunning effect, creating personal galleries that take full advantage of their exposures and unique perspectives.

Modern Mountainside
Paradise Valley, Arizona

Nestled in the heart of Paradise Valley (close to the Sanctuary Resort and Spa), this sleek mountainside Shangri-La caters to exceptional views of Camelback Mountain from every corner.  Luxury finishes—silver gray travertine flooring, Hansgrohe plumbing fixtures, absolute black honed granite kitchen counters, polished marble, and riff-cut oak cabinetry—enhance each room. The floor-to-ceiling windowed living area offers walk-out access to the patio, where you can’t help surrendering to the scenery.

Lakeside Icon
Ticino, Switzerland

Located in Brusino Arsizio, a 20-minute drive from Lugano and 5 minutes from the Italian border, this dazzling lakeside home was designed by famed Milanese architect Jacopo Mascheroni. Glass walls feature prominently throughout the house, providing limitless views of Lake Lugano, a glacial lake on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy and between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. The water and its mountainous surroundings make this area a prime destination for aquatic adventuring, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, sailing, and golfing.

Bayfront Beauty
Sarasota, Florida

A five-minute drive from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, this Sarasota stunner is award-winning architect Guy Peterson’s homage to glass. Soaring ceilings, walls of glass, and sleek materials—marble, granite, porcelain tile, and light oak flooring—throughout create an airy and sparkling atmosphere in this bayfront residence. Water is seamlessly incorporated, in a shimmering indoor pond and in an outdoor pool and its three fountains.    

The Demesne
Adare Manor, Limerick, Ireland

From award-winning A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects comes this light-filled, contemporary home, with a massive atrium that boasts transparent glass floors and balustrades, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass roof. An open floor plan enhances the airy feeling of this house, which is situated minutes from the village of Adare and Adare Manor Golf Resort. Renewable materials are employed throughout the design; high insulation values and natural ventilation minimize heating and cooling requirements. The magnificent grounds include an apple orchard, vegetable patch with pear trees, herb area, gazebo, pond, and, of course, a modern glass greenhouse.

Taghkanic House
Hudson, New York

Situated on 115 acres in the Hudson Valley, this sophisticated home was designed by modernist master Thomas Phifer. The sleek structure offers stunning views in every direction of the surrounding meadows and woodlands, and the Catskill Mountains beyond. A four-exposure, floor-to-ceiling glass-and-steel pavilion—containing living and dining areas—looks out on the grounds, which include a reflecting pool, an allée of linden trees, and a resort-caliber outdoor pool. The first level—with a library, movie theater, exercise room, guest wing, and indoor pool with a sauna—also features four family bedrooms with walls of glass. A separate glass-walled guesthouse provides additional living space, with three bedrooms and its own kitchen and laundry area.

Views of Versailles
La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France

This contemporary home in La Celle-Saint-Cloud—approximately 20 minutes by car from Versailles and 30 minutes by train to the Arc de Triomphe—is set on a third of an acre in the Colline des Impressionistes neighborhood. Huge floor-to-ceiling glazed windows overlook the terrace and the valley in the distance; the living room features a fireplace and cathedral ceiling. The study/library also opens out onto the terrace and garden.

The Point
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

This masterfully crafted glass-and-steel estate sits on 1.56 rural acres, with 1,250 feet of waterfront and south-southwest exposures, which provide utterly uninterrupted vistas of British Columbia. Floor-to-ceiling glass blends the interior with the exterior, creating undeniable fusion between the house and landscape. The property’s three private beaches are ideal for serene family moments but also allow for entertaining on a grand scale. A kayak launch is just steps away.

Chic Villa
Sintra, Portugal

Situated close to the center of the resort town of Sintra (approximately 18 miles from Lisbon), this contemporary villa—designed by London architect Chris Darling—offers exceptional coastal views. Mafra National Palace and the seaside resort of Ericeira are visible in the distance. The entire residence, including the pool, is constructed of gray limestone. The upper floor—with the kitchen and living room—features walls of windows, allowing sunlight to permeate all day. From the pool, which is accessed from the upper floor, walk out onto a roof terrace to grab a peek of the medieval Castle of the Moors and Pena National Palace, one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.  

Paradise Found
Paradise Valley, Arizona

Views of the city of Phoenix and of three mountain ranges abound from this 2008 residence designed by Tsontakis Architecture. Enter through a frosted-glass door and gaze out the 40-by-10-foot, seamless glazed windows to enjoy views of the infinity pool and mountains beyond. Among other notable features of this contemporary home are the open great room, the gourmet kitchen, a covered patio with a fireplace, and a basketball court. The property is set in a quiet location within walking distance of trails in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.   

Villa Le Cannet
Cannes, France

This striking modern home sits on approximately 1.5 acres overlooking the Bay of Cannes and the Esterel Massif. Its glass walls cater to clear views of the hills in the distance. Reflecting pools further enhance the tranquil feeling and shimmering elegance of this residence, whose design incorporates luxurious materials and finishes. A generous poolside deck, suitable for lounging in solitude or for entertaining a large group, provides a perfect perch for enjoying the sumptuousness of the property.     

Las Estancias
Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

In an exclusive gated community in the culturally rich city of Monterrey, this modern residence offers nearly 13,000 square feet of living space and excellent views of the Sierra Madre Oriental range—La Estanzuela Park is about 20 minutes away by car. High ceilings and walls of windows bring in light and lend the house an airy sensibility, while the grounds provide ample relaxation and entertaining space—a huge deck, barbecue area, extensive gardens, and a pool complete the picture.