$17m ‘Glass House’ mansion destroyed in California fires

A San Francisco Bay mansion with enormous glass walls set upon one of the Bay Area’s highest privately owned peaks has burned to the ground in the recent wildfires.

The home nicknamed the ‘Glass House’ at 1700 Twin Sisters Road in Fairfield, which is close to the border of Solano and Napa counties, was destroyed by the flames last week. 

The hexagon-shaped building which cost $17million to construct, complete with helicopter pad and 50-foot-long swimming pool, was one of many well-known landmarks that was reduced to ashes in fires that have blackened more than 182,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,700 structures.

A San Francisco Bay mansion with enormous glass walls has burned to the ground

The hexagon-shaped building cost $17million to construct, complete with helicopter pad and 50-foot-long swimming pool 

The home nicknamed the ‘Glass House’ at 1700 Twin Sisters Road in Fairfield which is close to the border of Solano and Napa counties was destroyed by the flames last week

The Solano County Sheriff Office shared video footage taken by helicopter last week that show the house gutted with only its concrete foundation and blackened metal framing and beams still remaining.

According to SFGate the home was built in 2003 by John Roscoe, founder of the ‘Cigarettes Cheaper!’ discount chain.

The architectural masterpiece was spread across 13,500 square feet with superb views of the area from every room.

The owner has vowed to rebuild once the fires are completely extinguished.  

The house was built on the very top of the hillside and with a stainless steel and wooden roof

The home was built in 2003 by John Roscoe, founder of the Cigarettes Cheaper! store

The architectural masterpiece was spread across 13,500 square feet with superb views of the area from every room

Stunning views of the surrounding mountains and hillsides could be viewed  all around

The most impressive section of the house containaed a blue tiled swimming pool that slipped under the perimeter glass walls onto a deck suspended over the steep hillside

Firefighters began gaining ground on wildfires that have killed at least 40 people in the past week, the deadliest blazes in California’s history, as winds eased and searchers combed charred ruins for more victims with hundreds still missing.

Two of the three most destructive Northern California fires were more than half contained early on Monday, and some residents who fled the flames in hard-hit Sonoma County could be allowed to return home later.

More than 5,700 structures were destroyed by more than a dozen wildfires that ignited a week ago and consumed an area larger than New York City. Entire neighborhoods in the city of Santa Rosa were reduced to ashes. 

Some houses burned and some did not. Aerial view of the damage caused by wildfire that destroyed the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa, California

The remains are seen after a wildfire moved through the area in Santa Rosa and Napa Valley

The Journey’s End mobile home park is seen in Santa Rosa, California. Forty people have died in wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed over 3,500 homes

The house was owned by John Roscoe, a tobacco packaging entrepreneur.

At the time, the Roscoes were both in their 70s and spent years acquiring this land in tiny parcels and they didn’t want to spoil.

The couple wanted a stunning house with large open spaces and glass walls to bring in views of the surrounding valleys. 

Belgium-born architect Helena Arahuete designed the the hexagonal, two-story home.

Before construction began, Arahuete stood on the site looking for the best views.

‘That’s why the house is so transparent,’ said Arahuete in 2005 to SFGate. ‘You have expansive views from anywhere in the house because the top floor is one big open space,’ she said. 

‘However, ceiling heights are varied to make the large contiguous spaces seem less monolithic. The staggered heights also allow north-facing clerestory windows between sections to bring in even more light.’ 

The building is a hexagonal, two-story airy complex with lush furnishings

The home has the ideal mix of traditional furnishings and modern fixtures

The house has plenty of home comfort with a lavish fireplace and comfortable chairs with a welcoming fireplace

On fine days the glass panels above the pool woudl be slid open, allowing guests to get into the deep end indoors and swim out into the open air

Wood and glass appear to be the order of the day, but they did not stand up to fire well at all 

The owner of the home has vowed to rebuild the structure bigger and better than before

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk