262 S San Rafael AVE Active Save Request In-Person Tour Request Virtual Tour
Pasadena,CA 91105
Key Details
Property Type Single Family Home
Sub Type Single Family Residence
Listing Status Active
Purchase Type For Sale
Square Footage 10,918 sqft
Price per Sqft $1,099
MLS Listing ID P1-24790
Bedrooms 6
Full Baths 3
Half Baths 6
Three Quarter Bath 2
HOA Y/N No
Year Built 1927
Lot Size 2.714 Acres
Property Sub-Type Single Family Residence
Property Description
The Frederick G. Adamson Estate, designed in 1927 by AIA Fellow Gordon B. Kaufmann is a defining example of Pasadena's Golden Era of architecture. This Italian Revival masterpiece is secluded beyond rolling lawns and mature landscape at the crest of a long, gated drive. The estate commands a premier setting along the western bank of the Arroyo Seco, on South San Rafael Avenue, one of Pasadena's most distinguished addresses. The 2.71-acre property is one of the few remaining undivided parcels on the street. Kaufmann's timeless vision reveals a residence that, while exceeding 10,000 square feet, retains a sense of warmth, intimacy, and effortless livability. Equally suited for grand entertaining or quiet retreat, the home exemplifies Kaufmann's celebrated ability to balance public and private realms while capturing the site's commanding views and sweeping panoramic vistas.Commissioned by Frederick G. Adamson, a prominent industrialist, the estate reflects Kaufmann's architectural mastery, the same genius that produced Caltech's iconic Athenaeum, the Los Angeles Times Building, the Hollywood Palladium and more. Having only a handful of owners in nearly a century, the Adamson Estate endures as a landmark of rare craftsmanship and artistry.Original details remain intact and meticulously preserved: lathe-and-plaster walls, hipped clay-tile rooflines, paneled walnut library, intricate moldings, oak floors, five fireplaces, and period light fixtures and hardware. Published in Architectural Digest (1930) and featured in numerous film and editorial productions, the residence is bathed in natural light and Arroyo breezes through perfectly placed French doors and windows. A succession of terraces, balconies, and loggias extends the living environment outdoors, seamlessly uniting the interior and exterior living spaces. Gated and enveloped by park-like grounds, the estate's secluded approach sets the tone for its grandeur. Just south of the Colorado Street Bridge and minutes from Downtown Los Angeles, Burbank studios, Caltech, and the Huntington Library & Gardens, the Frederick G. Adamson Estate remains an enduring and peerless expression of architectural significance, privacy, and timeless Pasadena elegance.
Location
State CA
County Los Angeles
Area 647 - Pasadena (Sw)
Rooms
Main Level Bedrooms 2
Interior
Interior Features Eat-in Kitchen,Dressing Area,Primary Suite,Utility Room,Walk-In Closet(s)
Cooling Central Air
Flooring Stone,Wood
Fireplaces Type Den,Dining Room,Family Room,Library,Living Room,Primary Bedroom
Inclusions TBA
Fireplace Yes
Appliance Freezer,Gas Cooktop,Gas Oven,Gas Range,Refrigerator
Laundry Laundry Room
Exterior
Parking Features Circular Driveway,Controlled Entrance,Door-Single,Garage,Gated,Oversized,Garage Faces Side,Side By Side
Garage Spaces 2.0
Garage Description 2.0
Fence Block,Chain Link
Pool In Ground
Community Features Biking,Curbs,Golf,Gutter(s),Hiking,Park,Preserve/Public Land,Rural,Street Lights,Suburban,Urban
View Y/N Yes
View Bridge(s),City Lights,Canyon,Park/Greenbelt,Landmark,Mountain(s),Neighborhood,Panoramic,Pool,Valley,Trees/Woods
Roof Type Tile
Porch Stone,Tile
Total Parking Spaces 10
Private Pool Yes
Building
Lot Description Garden,Sprinklers In Rear,Sprinklers In Front,Lawn,Yard
Dwelling Type House
Faces East
Story 3
Entry Level Three Or More
Sewer Public Sewer
Water Public
Architectural Style Mediterranean,See Remarks
Level or Stories Three Or More
Others
Senior Community No
Tax ID 5714030003
Security Features Security System,Carbon Monoxide Detector(s),Security Gate,Smoke Detector(s),Security Lights
Acceptable Financing Cash,Cash to New Loan
Listing Terms Cash,Cash to New Loan
Special Listing Condition Standard,Trust