Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House Needs Private Owner

Frank Lloyd Wright’s esteemed Ennis House recently hit the market for $15 million and is in need of a new caretaker.

A view of the exterior of the Ennis-Brown House, one of America's most- endangered historic places in 2005, in Los Angeles, California, after it was placed on the 11 most- endangered list by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Frank Lloyd Wright’s esteemed Ennis House recently hit the market for $15 million and is in need of a new caretaker.

The Ennis House—used in such films as “Blade Runner” and “Grand Canyon”—is the most magnificent of the four Los Angeles Textile Block Houses designed by the renowned architect during the mid 1920s.

The 6,000-square-foot dwelling, built for Charles and Mable Ennis, was modeled after ancient Mayan architecture. Constructed with 27,000 16-inch concrete blocks, the Ennis house includes classic Lloyd Wright art glass windows and doors, much like those used in his earlier Prairie styled homes. The Ennis house also boasts the last living example of a Wright-designed glass mosaic-tile fireplace.

The Ennis House Foundation recently listed the historic home with Hilton & Hyland and Dilbeck Realtors, with international marketing services by Christie’s Great Estates.

In years prior, the Foundation invested more than 6 million dollars in re-stabilization and preservation projects on the home, but recently realized they can no longer go at it on their own.

Members of the Foundation include actress Diane Keaton and the architect’s grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright, also an architect.

After suffering from the Northridge earthquake in the 1990s and torrential rainfall in 2005, the home was placed on the 11 Most Endangered List by the National Trust For Historic Preservation.

The Ennis House Foundation recently stated, “The Foundation determined that our best option is to find a private owner with the vision and resources to give this beloved Los Angeles landmark the level of care it needs and deserves.”

“The house has a conservation easement to protect it from demolition or insensitive alteration, and to guide future restoration, preservation, and maintenance efforts.”

Anticipated future repairs cost more than $10 million.

Fans of architecture and particularly fans of Frank Lloyd Wright hope the right buyer will appear, one who will properly address such needed renovations.

The City of Los Angeles has labeled the home as a Cultural Heritage Monument. It has also been designated as a California State Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.