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That iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright eventually found work in Los Angeles feels a bit like prophecy—he remains one of the most colorful characters in architectural history. Opinionated and flamboyant, a swashbuckler, he was a personality perfect for these parts.

Practically, the West Coast promised the architect a shot at big-budget projects and reliable paydays, along with proximity to his son Lloyd Wright, who served as general contractor on his father’s now-famous series of textile-block houses in the L.A. area, including the beautifully restored Ennis House, which is back on the market, a big ticket and better than ever.

Listed for $23 million by Coldwell Banker and Hilton & Hyland and located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of L.A., Ennis House has long been a star in this town, having appeared in a slew of television and film projects throughout the years including Blade Runner, the sci-fi classic, an acute reminder of the home’s experimental nature, particularly when it was first built, in 1924, when concrete still was a mostly new material in residential construction.

Now nearly a century old, the landmark residence is still making headlines, most recently for the feverous, multimillion restoration efforts by its current owner Ron Burkle, which has taken the already high-profile home to yet another level of renown.

The last of Wright’s local textile-block homes built in Southern California, the Ennis House is his most extravagantly imagined here. The clients who commissioned the house, Charles and Mabel Ennis, proprietors of a men’s clothing store, are somewhat shadowy figures in the sense that not much is known about them.

They had some degree of affluence, but prior to their collaboration with Wright, the Ennises’ homes were largely sensible. One assumes, not unreasonably, that as the couple rose in the ranks socially, their ambition widened as well. In Wright, the Ennises had an architect to design a house to meet the moment, a place where they could entertain.

Wright’s vision for the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home, which is composed of roughly 27,000 blocks, each one hand-cast in a custom mold, is equal to its expansive view of Los Angeles.

The property also features a self-contained, one-bedroom guest house. Later, as part of a 1940 remodel, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the pool. The home’s living spaces are more intimate than its public spaces, which are quite grand, even a bit showy.

“The way it’s perched on the hill is on stage. There is definitely a theatrical component to the house,” says John Waters, AIA, LEED AP, preservations programs manager of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, pointing to such aspects as the architect’s beautiful glass mosaic fireplace, columned corridors, and custom art-glass windows.

“While it is not unusual for Wright to dramatically reveal once space after another, the visceral effect of movement through the house is particularly theatrical here,” Waters adds. “The various spaces create a stage-like feeling inside. The Storer and Freeman [Houses] are more intimate in scale and the way the spaces work. Ennis is theatrical.”

While it is certainly true that the Ennis House has the flavor of the Mayan Revival style, it is more accurately perceived less aesthetically and more about Wright’s attempt to create a useable system of building. “Because it’s conceptual, it took more than he anticipated,” says Waters of Wright’s experimentation with the system.

“But it wasn’t a willful attempt to spend a lot of the Ennises’ money, but about his curiosity to see if the system would work.” Still, the Ennis House is highly ornamented, as was Wright’s way. “He loved to get his T-square and triangle working,” Waters notes. “The patterns are not always directly related to the work at hand. His work can be extremely decorative, a lot more than people really think about it being.”

The Ennis House is a testament to Frank Lloyd Wright’s remarkable ability to see three-dimensionally, but also his affinity for California. He did return to the Midwest eventually, but presumably, he was attracted to the energy of a Los Angeles as well as its regional characteristics, like natural light, which played well into his ideas of organic architecture.

It also fit with Wright’s flair for presentation; he did, after all, dub the Hollyhock House his “California Romanza” and in a letter to the Ennises, he wrote, prophetically in fact: “You see, the final result is going to stand on that hill a hundred years or more. Long after we are all gone it will be pointed out as the Ennis House and pilgrimages will be made to it by lovers of the beautiful—from everywhere.”

theennishouse.com

Presented by:
Ron de Salvo
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
310.777.6233

Branden and Rayni Williams
Williams & Williams Estates Group at Hilton & Hyland
310.691.5935

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARY E. NICHOLS

World-famous architect Tony Ashai has a distinct design philosophy, one that is steadfast to all things classic and timeless. That is to build a client’s dream home tailored to their individual lifestyle, and in a way that never goes out of style. For the property at 67 Paseo Del La Luz, Aisha—working with general contractor Josh Herbst, who is well-known for building premium homes in Beverly Hills—applied his classical stance and commitment to visual balance to create this elegant retreat reminiscent of a luxury seaside European villa.

Commanding views from a secluded neighborhood in Rancho Palos Verdes, this particular home is one of the newest properties built in the Oceanfront Estates community. Here, gorgeous private estates are surrounded by large manicured lawns with deep setbacks and wide streets. The slight gradation of land allows one to truly enjoy the cliffside locale and still enjoy 180-degree ocean vistas. With this neighborhood also near to some of the town’s hotspots like Terranea Resort and Trump International Golf Course, dining out or playing a round of golf is the norm.

The beautiful limestone colonnades at the entry create an almost piazza feel with cloistered ceilings along the hallways that are perfectly symmetrical, true to Ashia’s philosophy. Along with this visual balance, the grand, almost palatial, spaces feel surprisingly intimate and comforting. “The entrance to this home and its common areas feel like the lobby of a five- or six-star hotel in Europe,” describes Lily Liang, Realtor for Strand Hill Christie’s International Real Estate Group.

The attention to detail is unmatched, evident not only in the classic European wrought iron that wraps the dramatic and curved dual-sided staircase but in the individually carved marble stairs and floors that run throughout the common areas and hallways too. Hardwood floors, meanwhile, warm the bedrooms. “Those with a keen eye and understanding for architecture can see the value in the curved lines of the marble stairs and the authenticity of the colonnade pillars and fireplaces being hand-carved from French limestone,” adds Liang. Clearly, no expense was spared for the sake of quality and pure form.

Boasting just over 8,300 square feet, the tremendous volume of the space is highlighted by dramatic coffered ceilings that vary from room to room with clean lines so as to not feel overdone. Spaces seamlessly blend due to a flowing floor plan and creamy monochromatic color palette that yields a streamlined yet intricate aesthetic. One always finds delightful surprises in a home like this one: a regal study, custom wine cellar built directly into the dual staircase, and posh home theater, along with dedicated space for a gym or reading room.

All of these unique spaces are only steps away from outside access through a multitude of arched French doors leading to lovely grounds. The ultimate feature for the gourmet cook is the home’s second kitchen, sometimes known as a kosher kitchen, where a self-proclaimed chef can engage in the messier side of cooking, discreetly and out of the way of the main kitchen. Anchored by a huge slab of cream marble on the island and furniture-style cabinetry, this space also is appointed with a six-burner Wolf range, including griddle, indoor grill, and a professional grade ventilation system, tucked under a classic French-style hood.

Meanwhile, refined wooden panels mask doubled-sided Sub-Zero refrigerators, as well as dual dishwashers and other storage. This home was definitely built for a family or an owner who enjoys throwing a good party too; there’s a multitude of entertaining space, including two grand living rooms, one at the entry and the other downstairs with pool access, as well as a more intimate family room. Adjacent to the family room is a classic full-size wet bar with counter seating for enjoying a cognac after a dinner party in the formal dining room. Both upstairs and downstairs entertaining areas open up to gorgeous scenes from various balconies and patios.

The lavish master suite is one of the four bedrooms. Bordered by two balconies—west and southwest facing—one may enjoy vistas to Catalina right from bed. In the master and throughout the balance of the bedrooms, finely crafted built-ins with trim details create ample storage, as well. A swoon-worthy closet fit for a king and a massive master bath with a silver-tipped clawfoot tub complete the master suite. The balance of the bedroom-suites are very generous in size, each with a full bath and closets with built-ins. Each of the six baths, which include two powder rooms, one with a richly-done chrome sink, are individually designed with fresco-style tilework, furniture-like vanities and unique features.

A unique advantage to this home is that has two separate backyards. Perfect for families with small children, and completely gated, there is a large grassy lawn for playing sports or housing a pet on one side, and meticulous landscapes wrapping the lovely pool, with waterfall feature, and the spa on the other. Here, plenty of outdoor seating is available on the covered patio draped by colonnade-style pillars, as well as in the outdoor kitchen area with built-in barbecue grill. Sitting on just over a half-acre of land, the home’s exterior offers abundant grassy space for kids to run and play.

The property’s outdoor environment paints a transcendent classical picture via its dramatic colonnades, pillars of limestone, wrought iron-wrapped balconies, and smooth stone finish. Combined with its exquisite interior, this home translates to a life spent on permanent vacation in a seaside villa where stunning views and privacy abound—beautifully.

PRESENTED BY
Lily Liang
Strand Hill Properties
Christie’s International Real Estate

310.902.7799

List Price
$6,789,000

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAUL JONASON