In Malibu, a Rare Glass House by Architect Ed Niles Asks $5.8M

By: Mareesa Nicosia

Contemporary architect Ed Niles, whose exceptionally modern, glass-sided homes grace the hills of Malibu and are scattered along the ridges of Beverly Hills, apparently got a second chance to complete one of these remarkable projects 15 years ago.

This one-of-a-kind Malibu property on Castlewood Drive, located just off the Pacific Coast Highway, is now offered for $5.8 million.

The 2,932-square-foot structure is an industrial chic conglomeration of glass walls and steel beams that form interconnecting triangles and cylinders. Cypress and pine trees surrounding the house provide a lush natural privacy screen.

The home, which went up for sale on July 1, is only being listed through The Agency and Coldwell Banker, not the MLS.

“It’s located in the hills in Malibu so it has a feeling of complete privacy, yet it’s only two minutes from Pacific Coast Highway,” listing agent Sandro Dazzan, of The Agency, told Mansion Global in an exclusive interview.

Situated a short drive from Carbon Beach, it offers views of the mountains, the ocean and city lights across the Santa Monica Bay.

This is the first time the house is offered for sale in its current form. The original owner hired Mr. Niles to build the property in the late 1990s but was unable to complete the project, according to Mr. Dazzan. (He did not provide further explanation.)

The current owners, who declined to be interviewed, moved from the East Coast and originally sought out Mr. Niles to build them a home. Instead, in 2003, they purchased the unfinished property he’d begun work on years earlier and asked him to fulfill his vision.

The request was an architect’s dream: Mr. Niles was asked to take the existing shell that had been sitting empty and finish the kitchen and bathrooms, the pool and the landscaping however he wished, according to Mr. Dazzan. The architect also provided custom cabinetry and furniture.

All this work was done “without a budget in mind,” Mr. Dazzan said, which meant that Mr. Niles “really got to execute his vision.”

He declined to share the cost of the project.

The house was completed at the end of 2004 and the current owners have used it as their primary residence since then, Mr. Dazzan said. The property becomes available now as the sellers plan to swap coasts once again—their son just graduated from high school and is heading to college on the East Coast, while the couple plans to move onto their yacht in Florida, Mr. Dazzan said.  

The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house features limestone floors throughout, an elevator and a stainless steel Bulthaup kitchen. The triangular living room has a fireplace and a large ceiling-wide light diffuser.

The master suite offers Pacific Ocean views, a two-story skylight, a fireplace, a walk-in closet, a master bathroom, and a lofted space currently used as an office. The spacious junior suite includes a wet bar. A detached third bedroom has a private entrance with direct access to the swim patio, lap pool and spa.

Parking is a breeze: Steel and glass gates open to a motor court and a two-car garage, plus outdoor parking for six vehicles.

The junior suite is the perfect setup for a teenager, Mr. Dazzan said. With multiple outdoor seating areas and a full outdoor kitchen, which is accessible via a sheltered catwalk leading from the formal dining room and living room, it’s also ideal for buyers who enjoy entertaining, he said.

But more than anything, he said, it’s perfect for someone who wants to own an exceptional piece of live-in art.

“There’s nothing else on the market like it right now and for the architectural connoisseur that’s looking in Malibu, I think it represents a good value,” he said. “This is a very unique opportunity because homes like this in Malibu don’t come up very often.”

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