The Ennis House is a legendary architectural landmark located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. While Frank Lloyd Wright’s first California commission was in 1909 and his first Los Angeles masterpiece was the Hollyhock House, this 1923 design for Charles and Mabel Ennis stands as a monumental achievement in its own right. Completed in 1924, the Ennis House is the largest and most dramatic of Wright’s four “textile block” residences, famously showcasing an exotic Mayan Revival style that has captivated both architects and filmmakers for decades.
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Preservation and Management
The Ennis House is the largest of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southern California “textile block” houses, spanning approximately 6,200 square feet. Over the decades, the house has faced significant preservation challenges, particularly following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. It was previously managed by the Ennis House Foundation until it was sold to billionaire Ron Burkle, who spearheaded a massive, multi-million dollar restoration to stabilize the structure and its iconic blocks.
Architectural Style and Influence
The exterior of the building is constructed using a post-and-lintel system—also called a trabeated system—of horizontal beams held up by columns. The construction utilized 27,000 precast, intricately patterned “textile” blocks. These interlocking and delicately decorated blocks suggest Wright was greatly inspired by the ancient architecture of the Maya.
The house was originally commissioned by Charles Ennis, who passed away in 1928, only a few years after the house was completed. His wife, Mabel, sold the property eight years later, but the “Ennis” name has remained synonymous with the structure’s unique presence in the Los Angeles hills.
A Record-Breaking Sale
In October 2019, the residence was sold to a private buyer for $18 million. At the time, Architectural Digest noted that the transaction made the Ennis House the most expensive property designed by the legendary architect ever sold. While that price point was later surpassed by the 2022 sale of the Mrs. Clinton Walker House in Carmel, the Ennis House remains one of the most valued and significant pieces of residential real estate in the Wright portfolio. The preservation of its thousands of granite-like blocks remains a testament to historical conservation and the enduring value of Wright’s visionary work.
Plan Your Visit
📍Location
The Ennis House is perched on a high ridge in the Los Feliz hills. The home offers a commanding view of the Los Angeles skyline and the Griffith Observatory.
🛑Curb-Side Viewing Only
Please be aware that this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home is a privately owned residence and is not open to the public for tours. We kindly ask that you respect the owners’ privacy and refrain from trespassing on the property. For more history and updates, you can visit the Official Website.
🧳Make it a Trip
Since the Ennis House is best viewed from the street, it is easy to pair with a visit to the Hollyhock House in nearby Barnsdall Art Park. You can also explore the Griffith Observatory just minutes away, which offers another perspective of the Ennis House’s impressive silhouette against the hillside.
🎬Movies Filmed on Site
Through its almost 100-year existence, the house has the interesting distinction of appearing in countless Hollywood productions—more than 80, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. You can view our Ennis House Playlist on YouTube to see the house in action.
The movies are listed below in chronological order and have links to Amazon where may trailers are available to watch for free or the movie may be rented or purchased.
Female (1933) Starring: Ruth Chatterton, George Brent
House on Haunted Hill (1959) Starring: Vincent Price
The Day of the Locust (1975) Starring: Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, Burgess Meredith
Blade Runner (1982) Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah
Black Rain (1989) Starring: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Kate Capshaw
The Rocketeer (1991) Starring: Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly
Grand Canyon (1991) Starring: Steve Martin, Danny Glover, Kevin Kline
Ricky Martin music video, Vuelve (1998)
The Thirteenth Floor (1999) Starring: Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol, Dennis Haysbert
Fuel video of the song “Bad Day”
Mulholland Dr. (2001) Starring: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Explore unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home. We’ve even put together a curated collection specifically inspired by the Ennis House and the Textile Block homes to help you bring a piece of this masterpiece into your own space.
- Frank Lloyd Wright in the Movies: Iconic California Sites on Film (History & Guide) The History Press Edition
by Mark Anthony Wilson (Author), Joel Puliatti (Photographer), Marc Wanamaker (Foreword) - Bulova Men’s Frank Lloyd Wright Limited Edition ‘Ennis House’ Silver Stainless Steel Watch
