‘Rare’ Home Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Son Lists for $4.5 Million

As “the greatest American architect of all time,” Frank Lloyd Wright has inspired the designs of hundreds, if not thousands, of homes. But perhaps nowhere is his influence more apparent than in the properties designed by his own sons, Lloyd and John Lloyd Wright.

Now, one of those dwellings has returned to the market in California for $4.5 million, nearly 70 years after Wright’s second son, John, brought it to life, seamlessly integrating the dwelling into its natural surroundings, a design hallmark that his father was so famous for.

The 1958 property, which is known as the Ney House, is located just steps from the beach in La Jolla, CA, and offers sensational views of the Pacific Ocean from its picture-perfect perch.

Built into a steep hillside, the dwelling, which is listed with siblings Tim and Drew Nelson of the Nelson Brothers Team at Willis Allen Real Estate, does not blight the landscape, but rather blends into it, featuring a tapered design that appears to perfectly mirror the slope of the hill.

“The signature of the whole Wright family is to infuse the structure with nature,” says Drew. “This house is an example of that, built into the hillside. It’s seamless.”

In keeping with John’s desire to highlight the natural beauty that surrounds the property, nearly every room and nook in the home boasts panoramic, unobstructed ocean views. This includes outdoor living spaces in both the front and back.

Those vistas can be enjoyed from across the 2,839-square-foot four-story home, which features four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a lower-level studio, and a two-car garage.

But there are also other similarities to the elder Wright’s designs found throughout the structure, such as built-in banquette seating, lower-height ceilings, and long horizontal lines on the interior and then, on the exterior, wide-eave overhangs and a flat roof.

It is, according to the listing, “one of just a handful of homes” designed by John, who was also renowned for his work as the inventor of a children’s toy collection known as the Lincoln Logs, and Drew adds that it is “one of the only ones I know of that’s been available [for sale] in the recent past.”

Another of John’s homes, which is located in nearby Del Mar, CA, where his architectural studio was based, was sold for $5.4 million in November 2025; however, when that dwelling was listed, it had been years since one of his properties had appeared on the market.

And, Drew notes, the newly listed residence’s location in La Jolla could well give it the edge over John’s other residential projects.

“La Jolla is a seaside coastal community that offers the coziness of a small town with the amenities of a world-class destination,” he says. “People can live, work, and play in La Jolla and never have to leave, which is pretty unique for having such a small-town feel.”

This particular property is set within the tony La Jolla Country Club neighborhood, with even closer proximity to downtown. And, because it’s on the north side of the hill, Drew explains, the buyer gets “some of the most signature La Jolla views.”

The property last changed hands in 2014, when it was purchased for $2.22 million by the current owners, who have added several very tasteful modern upgrades to the dwelling over the last 12 years, always with careful consideration of John’s original design.

These include a fully stocked, chef-grade kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances from Viking, Miele, and Sub-Zero, as well as an owned solar energy system.

But the most impressive asset is arguably the views, which are emphasized by floor-to-ceiling windows that span almost the entire length of the main living area, while bright white ceilings and walls add a fresh, coastal feel to the space.

What’s more, a future buyer will have ample opportunity to update the property to their own specifications because there are no historical designations currently attached to the abode.

After purchasing the dwelling in 2014, the sellers did submit an application to the La Jolla Historical Society, but it was not approved—and Drew notes that this is likely a “blessing in disguise.”

“If they had [secured the historical designation], it would restrict what could be done to the home,” he explains. “You couldn’t [even] change the wooden railings to something more modern.”

The listing agent believes that the property is most ideally suited to a couple, particularly empty nesters who are seeking a retreat by the beach.

“Because of how the floorplan is, I feel like it’s probably more of an empty nester or couple’s home,” he shares, although he adds that the layout could easily be updated with a few tweaks.

“There’s a really great opportunity to take the top level, which currently has two bedrooms and two baths, and make it into a larger primary retreat,” he says.