Considered Frank Lloyd Wright’s favorite, the Ennis House stands before us a testament to architectural innovation. The Ennis House is nestled in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. It is south of Griffith Park. Wright designed this home for Charles and Mabel Ennis in 1923. Construction finished in 1924.
Following La Miniatura, Storer, and Freeman Houses, this is the fourth textile block design by Wright. It is also the largest in northern Los Angeles. The Ennis House is primarily constructed of interlocking pre-cast concrete blocks.
The Ennis House design draws inspiration from ancient Maya temples. Along with other Wright buildings, it exemplifies Mayan Revival architecture. Its prominent feature is the relief ornamentation. These adorn its 27000 perforated blocks. The blocks consist of patterned decomposed granite. These patterns echo the symmetrical reliefs of Puuc architecture in Uxmal.
The Ennis House is a designated landmark. It has city, state, and national recognition. From 2011 to 2019, billionaire Ronald Burkle owned it. He oversaw significant repairs and renovations. In 2019, Robert Rosenheck and Cindy Capobianco bought the house for $18 million. They are cannabis industry professionals and philanthropists.
The Ennis House consists of two buildings. There is the main house. There is also a smaller chauffeur’s apartment and garage. A paved courtyard separates them. Unlike Wright’s other block houses with vertical designs, the Ennis House features a long horizontal loggia spine on the northern side. It connects public and private rooms to the south. The house is quite large at 6200 sq ft. The kitchen, pantry, and guest room are at the eastern end. The dining room and living room are also there. Further along are the master bathroom and bedroom. An upper terrace and a second bathroom with bedroom complete the layout.
Construction faced difficulties, which increased costs. Initially, Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, supervised. Later, the owners took over. They made changes, deviating from Wright’s original design.
In 1940, media personality John Nesbitt purchased the Ennis House. He commissioned Wright to add a pool. It was to be on the north terrace. A billiard room was added on the ground floor. A heating system was also installed.
Originally known as the Ennis House, it was later called the Ennis-Brown House. This name honored Augustus O. Brown. He donated it to the Trust for Preservation of Cultural Heritage in 1980. In 2005, the house reverted to its original name. The Trust became the Ennis House Foundation.
From 1980 to 2011, the Foundation owned the Ennis House. During this time, it became a popular filming location. This cemented its fame in Los Angeles.
On June 19, 2009, the Ennis House Foundation put the house up for sale. The asking price was $15 million. With no buyers, the price decreased. Ron Burkle bought it for just under $4.5 million on July 14, 2011. The sale included an easement. It allows public viewing 12 days per year. This condition binds future owners.
Even before completion, the Ennis House showed structural instability. Concrete blocks cracked. Lower walls buckled. Decomposed granite used to color the blocks introduced impurities. Air pollution worsened the decay. A protective coating caused more problems.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused further damage. Record rainfall in 2004-2005 also took its toll. The Ennis House Foundation estimated stabilization could cost $5 million. Full restoration was estimated at $15 million. The house was red-tagged as “no entry”. Later, it was downgraded to yellow for limited entry. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it as one of the “11 Most Endangered Historic Places”.
In 2006, FEMA issued a grant. First Republic Bank provided a $4.5 million loan. Restoration restarted. It included a new structural support system. Damaged blocks were restored or replaced. Windows were restored, and a new roof was installed. Restoration finished in 2007. It cost nearly $6.4 million. Access by the public remains limited.
The building’s unique design has attracted filmmakers. The house provided the exterior for “House on Haunted Hill” in 1959. The 1975 film “The Day of the Locust” used the house extensively. In “Blade Runner” 1982, the Ennis House gained fame. Only the motor court arrival was filmed here. Casts of the blocks were used for interior sets. The house appears in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” as Angelus’ mansion.
Sections of the interior appear in many films. These include “The Karate Kid Part III”, “Black Rain”, and “Rush Hour”. The house has also been a location for commercials and music videos.
The Ennis House stands as a landmark. It reminds us of Wright’s vision. It is a blend of Mayan inspiration and modern design. The Ennis House is more than a building. It is a piece of art. It has a story etched in every block.