Rayfiel, David, House
Also known as: The Sacandaga Glass House; "Shelter for David Rayfiel"
Why it's listed
Built in 1958 on the southern shore of Great Sacandaga Lake in the Town of Day, this small house is a Modern Movement design by architect George Lawrence Moore. It measures about 32 feet wide and 20 feet deep, with a flat roof, brick side walls and a lakefront facade made entirely of glass in three symmetrical bays. The street side has ribbon windows separated by wood panels painted red, white, yellow and blue, a reference to the art of Piet Mondrian. Inside, an open plan with exposed brick, a built-in hearth area and a floating staircase leads to a bedroom loft. Screenwriter David Rayfiel commissioned the house as a retreat and wrote many of his screenplays there. The nomination values it chiefly as architecture: a rare, well-preserved example of Modernism in a region of mostly traditional, pitched-roof buildings, often compared with Philip Johnson's Glass House in Connecticut.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare and distinctive example of Modern Movement residential design in the Adirondack foothills. Its glass curtain-wall facade, simple geometry and flat roof contrast with the region's more conservative buildings and invite comparison to Philip Johnson's Glass House. It also retains an unusually high degree of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000910, listed November 10, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1266 Kathan Rd., Day |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | November 10, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000910 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1958 |
| Architect / builder | George Lawrence Moore |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is single dwelling; the site includes a non-historic carport and replacement windows matching the originals. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 43.30118, -73.94289 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000910.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5238927
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.