The Mathews House sold on 9/9/22. View the property listing on Zillow.
Located in a quiet Atherton, California neighborhood and barely visible from the street, one could easily walk past the house. Typical of Wright’s structures, the red brick and wood Usonian-style design is definitely “one” with the surrounding landscape. The ancient oak trees are serpent-like and watch over the Wisteria Way entrance. Designed in 1950, the structure has a diamond-shape layout with two separate and parallel wings that are connected at an angle by a dining area and central workspace which nicely frame a large terrace with a wall of windows.
There are built-ins, constructed of Philippine mahogany, but interestingly, none of the contained Wright-designed furniture was built specifically for the home. There does exist for the home a set of eight blueprints, which were sold at auction in 2013.
Modern Changes: The Arrival of the ADU
While the main house remains a low-slung masterpiece of the Usonian period, the property has recently seen significant changes. During a visit in 2025, we discovered a new structure sharing the lot—an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). While these units are becoming common in California to address housing needs, this modern addition stands in stark contrast to the original Wright design in both height and material.
Read more about our discovery of the Mathews House and its new neighbor on our Wright – Eichler Connection in California article.