Walter Rudin House

When the Rudins purchased the house, Walter was only 10 years from finishing his Ph.D., and had only written one textbook. He had made zero famous mathematical discoveries. So not exactly nobility.

The house was a prefab, adopted from an earlier prefab design by Frank Lloyd Wright, yes... But FLW's most important contribution seems to have been chopping 50% from the cost. And if the prefab company was a success - any "Designed by FLW" fame could get pretty diluted, after they'd build a few thousand more of 'em.

Plus - if you're at all familiar with the climate in Madison, WI - a cut-rate 1950's house, mostly concrete block and window walls, with a carport - that could be pretty uncomfortable to live in.