




262 San Rafael, Pasadena, CA 91105
'The opportunity to acquire a Kaufmann-designed residence of this scale, on land of this magnitude, and in direct relationship to the Arroyo Seco are exceedingly rare. Such properties are not replicated.'Privately located on one of the last undivided parcels on ultra-prestigious South San Rafael Avenue, sits the Frederick G. Adamson estate. Sited on 2.71 acres at the top of a long, gated driveway with commanding panoramic views of the Southern Basin from the western bank of the Arroyo Seco, the estate offers scale, privacy, and permanence that can no longer be replicated.Gordon B. Kaufmann, AIA Fellow, who over his career partnered with Reginald Johnson, Roland Coate, and Jesse Stanton, was the architect behind Greystone Mansion, the Los Angeles Times Building, the Athenaeum at Caltech, and numerous other landmark works, earning recognition at the Paris International Exposition. His architecture is found throughout many of Southern California's most prominent enclaves, including Bel-Air, Hancock Park, Holmby Hills, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, and Montecito.This Italian Revival masterpiece reflects Kaufmann's timeless vision, revealing a residence that, while exceeding 10,000 square feet, retains a sense of warmth, intimacy, and effortless livability. Equally suited for grand entertaining and private retreat, the home exemplifies his celebrated ability to balance formal and informal spaces while capturing the site's commanding views and sweeping panoramas. A succession of terraces, balconies, and loggias extends the living experience outdoors, beautifully uniting architecture and landscape design.Original and updated details remain remarkably preserved, including lathe-and-plaster walls, a paneled walnut library, oak floors, intricate moldings, five fireplaces, clay-tile rooflines, and period lighting and hardware reflecting a level of craftsmanship and integrity rarely seen today.Published in Architectural Digest in 1930 and held by only a handful of owners over nearly a century, the estate endures as a cultural artifact. Properties of this caliber do not trade often. When they do, they demand decisive, thoughtful ownership. This is one of those moments.Minutes from Caltech, the Huntington Library & Gardens, major studios, and Downtown Los Angeles, the Adamson Estate unites architectural significance, irreplaceable land, and enduring value.
Bedrooms
6
Bathrooms
11
Square Feet
10,918
Lot Size
118,048 sqft
Year Built
1927
Property Type
Single Family Residence
Days on Market
30
HOA Fee
N/A
Garage Total
2
MLS #
P1-25399
Interior Features
Eat In Kitchen, Dressing Area, Primary Suite, Utility Room, Walk In Closets
Flooring
Stone, Wood
Fireplace
Den, Dining Room, Family Room, Library, Living Room, Primary Bedroom
Appliances
Freezer, Gas Cooktop, Gas Oven, Gas Range, Refrigerator
Laundry
Laundry Room
Main Level Bedrooms
2
Main Level Bathrooms
3
Cooling
Central Air
Total Parking Spaces
10
Garage Spaces
2
Open Parking Spaces
8
Attached Garage
Yes
Parking Features
Circular Driveway, Controlled Entrance, Door Single, Garage, Gated, Oversized, Garage Faces Side, Side By Side
Patio & Porch
Stone, Tile
Fencing
Block, Chain Link
Security
Security System, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Security Gate, Smoke Detectors, Security Lights
Construction
Plaster
Roof
Tile
Direction Faced
East
Lot Features
Garden, Sprinklers In Rear, Sprinklers In Front, Lawn, Yard
Pool Features
In Ground
Sewer
Public Sewer
Water Source
Public
Biking, Curbs, Golf, Gutters, Hiking, Park, Preserve Public Land, Rural, Street Lights, Suburban, Urban
$0
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Balanced market
Avg. time on market
This is a Balanced Market. Homes are selling at a moderate pace.
Flood Risk
Minimal — not in a FEMA flood zone
Wildfire Risk
Moderate — near wildland-urban interface
Heat Risk
Low — moderate summer temperatures
Earthquake Risk
Southern California seismic zone
Based on price, location, and features
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