Property photo 1
6 Beds
11 Baths
10,918 sqft

$11,000,000

262 S San Rafael Avenue, Pasadena CA, 91105

Price per sqft$1,007.51
Built in1927
Property size10,918 sqft
Property typeResidential
Bought with Annie Deng with COMPASS and Listed by Rita Whitney CA DRE# 01209004 with The Agency (626) 755-4988

Overview

Sold

Closed

Listed May 1, 2026

Updated Aug 25

'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, 14.75 foot ceilings, clay-tile roofline, 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.

Additional information

MLS® ID
P1-26939

Interior Features

Bedrooms
6
Bathrooms
11
Fireplace
Yes
Cooling
Yes
Heating
Yes
Basement
Yes

Exterior Features

Lot Size
2.71 Acres

Other Property Details

Garage
Yes
View
Yes
Pool
Yes
55+/Senior Community
No
MLS provider logo

Bought with Annie Deng with COMPASS and Listed by Rita Whitney CA DRE# 01209004 with The Agency (626) 755-4988

Based on information from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) as of 8/25/2026. This information is for your personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties you may be interested in purchasing. Display of MLS data is usually deemed reliable but is NOT guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and should investigate the data themselves or retain appropriate professionals. Information from sources other than the Listing Agent may have been included in the MLS data. Unless otherwise specified in writing, the Broker/Agent has not and will not verify any information obtained from other sources. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. Property locations as displayed on any map are best approximations only and exact locations should be independently verified. Any offer of compensation is made only to participants of the MLS where the listing is filed.

©2026 California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) all rights reserved.

Data last updated on 8/25/2026 at 1:21 AM UTC Last Checked: 1:21 AM UTC

 

 

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