Adamson Star Pool: Photo © Alice Joyce
Adamson House is known for the historic Malibu Potteries, and its lovely gardens which overlook the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a showcase for colorful tilework, Adamson House is adjacent to the Malibu Lagoon Museum, situated in the house’s attached 5-car garage. Although part of the California State Parks, Adamson House and the surrounding landscape receive loving support from the Friends of the Historic Adamson House & Malibu Lagoon Museum. Architect Stiles Clements designed the house in a Spanish Colonial Revival style for Merritt Huntley Adamson and his wife, Rhoda, the daughter of Frederick and May Rindge.
Photo © Alice Joyce
Adamson House © Alice Joyce
Dating to 1930, the Adamson/Rindge family home and gardens comprise a unique setting, decorated indoors and out with stunning ceramic tiles manufactured by Malibu Potteries. May K. Rindge established the pottery in 1926. The Great Depression and a fire signaled the company’s closure in 1932.
Originally the family’s summer place, the house eventually became the Adamsons’ principal residence. Purchased by the state of California in 1968, plans were to tear down the house and create a parking lot! A concerned community managed to halt the destruction of this unique landmark. Visitors touring the house see the original, beautifully preserved furnishings.
Adamson House Bench with Tilework © Alice Joyce
A venerable California Sycamore — Plantanus racemosa takes center stage on the Wedding Lawn.
California Sycamore Wedding Lawn Copyright Alice Joyce
You’ll find the Adamson House’s exemplary tilework abetted by a magnificent collection of trees: Bunya-Bunya, Mexican Fan Palms, and rare New Zealand Chaste Tree (Vitex lucens), among the garden specimens.
Peacock Fountain © Alice Joyce
The original site … “a series of large sand dunes –13 acres in size — as construction of the house neared completion, good humus was transported from nearby canyons.
Malibu Potteries © Alice Joyce
Dombeya cayeuxii
The lavishly adorned Dombeya cayeuxiiis known as the Pink Snowball tree.
Peacock Fountain © Alice Joyce
Garden beds 5 to 10 feet deep were graded and landscaped with many exotic and native plants.” Rhoda Adamson planted several rose and Victory gardens. The brilliantly patterned tilework is a joy to behold.
Neptune Fountain © Alice Joyce
Entryway Copyright Alice Joyce
Adamson House Copyright Alice Joyce
How beautiful! I love the tilework bench. I can’t believe someone thought of tearing it down in favor of a parking lot. So glad they didn’t!
Dear Alice, What a remarkable house and garden and how fortunate that it was saved for future generations to enjoy. The tiles are glorious and remind one of the de Morgan tiles of the Arts and Craft movement in the UK.
What a beautiful place and such lovely pottery. I love all the blue.
This is a fantastic place. The grounds are so big and the area with the sycamore looks like a great place to stay and read a book.
Alice, this is FABULOUS.
That Peacock Fountain is TO DIE FOR.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Best
R