The “glass mansion” is the Razor House, a glass-walled La Jolla, San Diego home designed by Wallace E. Cunningham and finished in 2008, which sold for $14.1 million in 2011 after a $45 million asking price and again for $20.8 million in 2019. It has appeared in Calvin Klein and Visa ads.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | La Jolla, San Diego, California |
| Architect | Wallace E. Cunningham |
| Build | Six years, completed in 2008, at a reported cost of about $34 million |
| Asking price | $45 million at first |
| 2011 sale | $14.1 million to a new buyer, who also finished the build |
| 2019 sale | Reportedly $20.8 million to Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz |
From $45 million to $14.1 million
The first owner set the price at $45 million, and no one bit. After the owner’s money ran out, the house sold in 2011 for $14.1 million, and the new owner completed the construction. Eight years later the house changed hands again, reportedly for $20.8 million, after an asking price of $25 million in August 2019.
The glass and the view
Glass walls make nature feel like part of the home, and the sea sits just down the hill. An infinity pool faces the sunset. The house has been a backdrop for Calvin Klein ads with Lara Stone and Tyson Ballou, for Visa Black Card advertising, and for an Aston Martin Zagato unveiling.
The first sale was widely covered at the time; see the original news report.
Keep reading
- The Adidas office in Shanghai: more striking glass architecture
FAQ
Where is the glass mansion?
In La Jolla, San Diego, California. It is known as the Razor House.
Who designed it?
Architect Wallace E. Cunningham.
How much did it sell for?
$14.1 million in 2011, and reportedly $20.8 million in 2019.
What was the original asking price?
$45 million.
Which ads were filmed there?
Calvin Klein with Lara Stone and Tyson Ballou, and Visa Black Card ads.
Last updated: October 2026.
