Wright's Ennis House in L.A. is still for sale

The Ennis House in Los Angeles, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is still for sale. This comes two months after it was offered for sale by the nonprofit organization that owns it for 15 million dollars (270 million CZK). Despite extensive media coverage, no offers for its purchase have yet been submitted.
      The Ennis House was built in 1924 for Charles and Mabel Ennis. It stands on a hillside above Los Angeles on Glendower Ave in the Los Feliz neighborhood. It is the largest of four "textile-block" buildings designed by Wright in Southern California. Wright’s "textile-block" houses were constructed from precast concrete blocks and featured geometrically abstracted ornaments inspired by nature. In designing the villa, which has a usable area of 557 square meters, Wright was inspired by Mayan temples. The villa is a protected landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated as a California Historical Landmark and a Cultural Heritage Landmark. The villa has previously been a popular location for filming movies, music videos, and fashion shoots.
      The asking price of 15 million dollars does not include an additional 6 million dollars (108 million CZK) needed for the renovation of the 85-year-old villa.
      The Ennis House Foundation has owned the house since 1980. The foundation, along with two other organizations, has spent 6.5 million dollars since 2005 to remove damage caused by the earthquake in 1994 and subsequent heavy rains. Since the foundation has been unable to complete the renovation of the villa from its financial resources, it decided to sell it in mid-June, along with an easement that will prevent demolition or serious damage to the landmark.
      Real estate agents claim there is a great deal of interest in the villa, including internationally. "Several truly qualified potential buyers have already emerged", says Aaron Kirman, executive director of the architecture division at Hilton & Hyland Realtors. "But we are not in a hurry. We want to ensure that the villa goes to future owners who recognize its architectural significance and will strive to complete its restoration", Kirman adds.
      Kirman believes that specific offers from buyers have not yet been submitted due to concerns about the easement requiring the completion of repairs to the villa. Nonetheless, he believes a serious buyer will be found who will not only be willing to purchase the villa but also carefully restore it under the foundation's oversight.

> The Ennis House Foundation