262 S San Rafael Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105
Listing Courtesy of: CRMLS / The Agency Pasadena / Rita J Whitney

  262 S San Rafael Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105

Active (85 Days)
$12,000,000 (USD)
6
BED
11
BATH
10,918
SQFT

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. 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.

MLS #:
P1-25399
Lot Size
2.71 acres
Type
Single-Family Home
Year Built
1927
Style
Mediterranean
Views
Panoramic, City Lights, Canyon, Neighborhood, Trees/Woods, Pool, Valley, Landmark, Mountain(s), Park/Greenbelt, Bridge(s)
County
Los Angeles County

Listed By

Rita J Whitney, DRE #CALBRE# 01209004, The Agency Pasadena
Source
CRMLS
Last checked Feb 4 2026 at 4:39 AM GMT+0000
Bathroom Details
  • Full Bathrooms: 3
  • 3/4 Bathrooms: 2
  • Half Bathrooms: 6
Interior Features
  • Utility Room
  • Dressing Area
  • Refrigerator
  • Freezer
  • Laundry: Laundry Room
  • Gas Cooktop
  • Gas Oven
  • Gas Range
  • Walk-In Closet(s)
  • Primary Suite
Lot Information
  • Yard
  • Lawn
  • Sprinklers In Front
  • Sprinklers In Rear
  • Garden
Property Features
  • Fireplace: Family Room
  • Fireplace: Living Room
  • Fireplace: Den
  • Fireplace: Library
  • Fireplace: Dining Room
  • Fireplace: Primary Bedroom
Heating and Cooling
  • Central Air
Pool Information
  • In Ground
Flooring
  • Wood
  • Stone
Exterior Features
  • Roof: Tile
Utility Information
  • Utilities: Water Source: Public
  • Sewer: Public Sewer
Parking
  • Controlled Entrance
  • Gated
  • Circular Driveway
  • Garage
  • Side by Side
  • Oversized
  • Garage Faces Side
  • Door-Single
Living Area
  • 10,918 sqft
Location
   
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Disclaimer: Based on information from California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of 2/22/23 10:28 and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent. The information being provided by Conejo Simi Moorpark Association of REALTORS® (“CSMAR”) is for the visitor's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties visitor may be interested in purchasing. Any information relating to a property referenced on this web site comes from the Internet Data Exchange (“IDX”) program of CSMAR. This web site may reference real estate listing(s) held by a brokerage firm other than the broker and/or agent who owns this web site. Any information relating to a property, regardless of source, including but not limited to square footages and lot sizes, is deemed reliable.