Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover House

The Lou Henry and Herbert Hoover House is a two-story residence with an asymmetrical design located on the Stanford University campus. The building features hollow tile walls and concrete foundations, with the rear section extending to three stories.

The house was built in 1920 as the residence of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, and his wife Lou Henry. Lou Henry personally designed the building, pioneering a new direction in American residential architecture.

The residence reflects a blend of different architectural influences that visitors can see throughout its rooms and spaces. Walking through, you notice how the design approaches from different traditions came together in a single home.

The building now serves as the official residence of the Stanford University president. Visitors should know that solar panels installed in 2008 improved energy efficiency, and the house remains in active use as a working residence.

Lou Henry Hoover rejected conventional design rules and created an asymmetrical structure that appears smaller from the outside than it actually is inside. This surprising gap between external appearance and interior space was a bold architectural statement for its time.

Location: Stanford

Inception: 1920

Architects: Lou Henry Hoover

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, International Style, Mission Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.41771,-122.16888

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:43