Located in a quiet neighborhood in Atherton, California, the Arthur Mathews House is a low-slung masterpiece of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian period. Barely visible from the street, the home is a quintessential example of organic architecture, nestled behind ancient, gnarly oak trees that seem to watch over the entrance. Designed in 1950, the structure utilizes a “diamond-shape” layout that perfectly integrates the living space with its wooded surroundings.
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Modern Changes: The Arrival of the ADU
The Mathews House remains a privately owned residence. While the main structure has been carefully preserved, the property recently underwent a significant change with the addition of a modern Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). During a site visit in 2025, it was noted that this new structure stands in stark contrast to Wright’s original low-profile design, both in its height and contemporary materials. This addition reflects the evolving housing needs in California while highlighting the challenges of maintaining the visual isolation Wright originally intended for his Usonian homes.
The design of the home is organized around two separate and parallel wings, connected at an angle by a central workspace and dining area. This geometry effectively frames a large outdoor terrace through an expansive wall of windows, a classic Wrightian technique used to blur the line between interior and exterior. The construction features red brick and Philippine mahogany built-ins, though interestingly, none of the furniture within the home was custom-built by Wright specifically for this site.
The architectural integrity of the home is well-documented; a rare set of eight blueprints for the project gained historical interest when they were sold at auction in 2013. The home’s placement on Wisteria Way ensures that even with modern neighbors, it remains “one” with the landscape, as the red brick and wood tones echo the colors of the surrounding soil and trees.
Read more about our discovery of the Mathews House and its new neighbor on our Wright – Eichler Connection in California article.
Plan Your Visit
📍Location
The Arthur Mathews House is located in Atherton, California. It is situated in a residential area on the San Francisco Peninsula, near Stanford University.
🛑Curb-Side Viewing Only
Please be aware that this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home is a privately owned residence and is not open to the public for tours. We kindly ask that you respect the owners’ privacy and refrain from trespassing on the property. Due to the dense foliage and the home’s low profile, it is difficult to see clearly from the street.
🧳Make it a Trip
Atherton is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, making it a perfect starting point for a mid-century modern architecture tour. You can easily pair a visit to this area with a stop at the Hanna-Honeycomb House on the Stanford University campus, which is another significant hexagonal-module Wright design. Afterward, explore the nearby Eichler neighborhoods in Palo Alto to see how Wright’s Usonian principles influenced the mass-market mid-century modern movement. For a complete Wright experience, continue south to the Walker House in Carmel-by-the-Sea or north to San Francisco to see the V.C. Morris Gift Shop.
- Best Western Plus Riviera
- Comfort Inn Palo Alto
- Crowne Plaza Palo Alto, an IHG Hotel
- Nobu Hotel Palo Alto: For a more luxurious experience, this upscale, contemporary hotel offers sleek rooms and suites, a health club, and refined on-site dining.
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
