262 S San Rafael Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Property Description

'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.' The Frederick G. Adamson Estate, designed in 1927 by Gordon B. Kaufmann, AIA Fellow and master of Southern California's Golden Era. Privately sited beyond rolling green lawns and mature plantings, the estate crowns a long, gated drive on South San Rafael Avenue--one of Pasadena's most prestigious addresses, commanding panoramic views of the Southern Basin from the western bank of the Arroyo Seco. Encompassing 2.71 acres, it is among the last remaining undivided parcels on the street, offering scale, privacy, and permanence that can no longer be replicated.Kaufmann, 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, uniting architecture and landscape in harmonious dialogue.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.Moments from the Colorado Street Bridge, Caltech, the Huntington Library & Gardens, major studios, and Downtown Los Angeles, the Adamson Estate occupies a singular position at the intersection of architectural significance, irreplaceable land, and enduring value.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.

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