Image: Left/Harry Bowles (Credit: Manitoba Historical Society Archives)/Right/Matt Harper/NorCalHomeTours
The approximately 300-square-foot area now features a skylight and offers potential for use as a studio, guest space or home office. The current owner, Mike Moye, discovered the property in 2003 after a photograph of its glass façade caught his attention. Listed for $1.088 million, the Berkeley Hills house brings together architectural history, woodland views and adaptable creative space.
Realtor reported that the property became the most popular home on its weekly list, demonstrating the online interest generated by its unusual design. The property’s history as a photographer’s residence extends beyond its main living spaces. Batey originally built a darkroom beside the single-car garage, providing Bowles with a dedicated space for photographic work. He subsequently spent more than two decades living in and updating the residence, including improvements to the kitchen and outdoor areas.
Designed in 1972 by architect Andrew Batey for architectural photographer Henry Bowles, the residence was conceived to connect its interiors with the surrounding woodland. Now listed for $1.088 million, the home is being offered after more than two decades under its current owner. The 1,625-square-foot house combines glass, steel and redwood to create a distinctive modernist residence, according to the New York Post. A floating staircase with cable railing connects the main living space to the upper level, where a 400-square-foot mezzanine accommodates the second bedroom among the oak treetops.
SFGATE describes a double-height living area with exposed beams, alongside an updated kitchen featuring quartz countertops and custom honeycomb tile. A glass house nestled among the trees of California’s Berkeley Hills is attracting attention for its unusual architecture and creative history. The two-bedroom property combines glass, steel and redwood in a design that makes natural light and the landscape central to its character. Its former photographic darkroom, double-height living room and distinctive glass façade add to its appeal. The property’s defining feature is its expansive glass façade, which creates a visual connection between the interior and the wooded hillside outside. Its double-height living room gives the relatively compact home a sense of openness, while sliding glass doors lead towards a spacious deck. Realtor also highlighted the two-storey glass wall as a defining feature of the property, helping explain its appeal to readers interested in distinctive homes. Rather than placing conventional walls between residents and the landscape, the design allows trees and daylight to become part of the visual experience. The combination of exposed structural elements and extensive glazing gives the house a character that remains closely tied to its woodland setting. Inside, the Photographer’s House combines an open layout with architectural details that distinguish it from a conventional two-bedroom residence. The primary suite has its own entrance, adding a degree of separation within the home’s open design. Another notable feature is the black-tiled bathroom, illuminated by two skylights. Batey returned in the late 1980s to design the bathroom, extending his involvement with the property beyond its original construction. These details combine contemporary updates with the architectural character of the original house.
