Blog | Vitrocsa Invisible Wall at Pacific Heights II | Marmol Radziner & Goldbrecht

Perched on a steep San Francisco corner with sweeping views extending toward the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the Pacific Heights Residence II was originally designed in 1963 by modern master Hank Schubart. To adapt this mid-century icon for contemporary high-end living while honoring its original design vision, acclaimed design-build firm Marmol Radziner paired with interior designer Charles de Lisle to deliver a masterclass in spatial restoration.

Featured in Architectural Digest, the residence stands as a definitive example of how thoughtful architecture and precision-engineered fenestration elevate historic design to meet modern luxury performance.

To expand the home's footprint without compromising the hillside, Marmol Radziner added a third level beneath the original structure, opening onto a tranquil lower garden. The redesign pairs clean structural lines and neutral palettes with vast expanses of modern glass that dissolve physical boundaries.

The Vitrocsa Invisible Wall is the world's original frameless system. Invented in 1992, its patented engineering defined modern architecture through the world's slimmest 3/4" sightlines. For this house, Goldbrecht delivered high-performance Swiss-engineered Vitrocsa sliding glass systems alongside custom Vitrocsa fixed units:

- Vitrocsa Sliding Units: Precision-engineered horizontal sliding panels featuring ultra-slim 3/4" sightlines and patented roller components that move with whisper-quiet, effortless ease—allowing main living spaces to merge directly with the coastal breeze.
- Vitrocsa Fixed Units: High-integrity structural fixed picture windows recessed seamlessly into ceiling and floor tracks, maximizing natural light and framing uninterrupted views of San Francisco Bay without heavy visual framing.

By pairing versatile sliding configurations with flush fixed units, Goldbrecht empowered Marmol Radziner to eliminate spatial boundaries while withstanding demanding hillside wind loads and climate conditions.

Today, Vitrocsa is the choice of Pritzker Prize-winning architects and design leaders worldwide. Supported by our US-based manufacturing and technical support center, Goldbrecht continues to push the boundaries of windows and doors to develop the industry further.

Our product portfolio features the unrivaled flexibility of Vitrocsa sliding, fixed, pivoting, outswing, vertical, and turnable corner systems, alongside the architectural power of HIRT kinetics retracting glass walls, and our German aluminum and Italian steel lines.
To read the full architectural feature, visit Architectural Digest. Ready to integrate custom Vitrocsa sliding and fixed systems into your next luxury commission?

REQUEST A QUOTE from the Goldbrecht technical team today.