In case any of the children missed it on Curbed (and elsewhere), supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle coughed up "just under $4.5 million" to purchase Frank Lloyd Wrights sublime but somewhat bedraggled Ennis House in Los Angeles, CA.The Mayan-inspired house, built in 1924 for Mabel and Charles Ennis, a retailer with architectural chutzpah, came to be owned by an entity called the Ennis House Foundation who first put it on the market in the summer of 2009 with an optimistic asking price of $15,000,000. The price subsequently plunged dramatically to $5,999,000 before Mister Burkle stepped in to save the real estate day with his close-to $4,500,000 purchase. A press release issued by the Ennis House Foundation stated that Mister Burkle plans to continue a restoration that Your Mama would bet our long-bodied bitches Linda and Beverly will undoubtedly cost the new owner many millions to do correctly.
Listing information for the multi-level concrete block-built mansion shows it measures around 6,000 square feet and includes a total of 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, five exceptionally detailed fireplaces, a window- and column-lined loggia that makes Your Mama dizzy with delight. The loggia frames a capacious courtyard on the street side of the house that includes a swimming pool and on the other side of the windows and terraces offer unimpeded canyon, city and distant ocean views.
A conservation easement held by the Los Angeles Conservancy states Mister Burkle must allow public access to the historic house at least 12 days a year which means that all us architectural looky-loos will get to gape at the stunning structure once its meticulous restoration is complete. Where do we get in line for a ticket?
photo: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times
