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1923: Charles Ennis (Ennis-Brown) House

The Charles Ennis (Ennis-Brown) House by Frank Lloyd Wright

The Ennis-Brown House, 2607 Glendower Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA
Frank Lloyd Wright used textured concrete blocks for the Ennis Brown house

The Ennis-Brown House by Frank Lloyd Wright

Photo © Mary Ann Sullivan, www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/
Frank Lloyd Wright used stepped walls and textured concrete blocks called textile blocks for the Ennis-Brown house in Los Angeles, California. The design of the Ennis-Brown home suggests pre-Columbian architecture from South America. Three other Frank Lloyd Wright houses in California are made with similar textile blocks. All were built in 1923:

The rugged exterior of the Ennis-Brown House became famous when it was featured in House on Haunted Hill, a 1959 film directed by William Castle. The interior of the Ennis House has appeared in many movies and television shows, including:

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • Twin Peaks
  • Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott
  • Thirteenth Floor (1999)
  • Predator 2 (1990)
The Ennis House has not weathered well and millions of dollars have gone into repairing the roof and stabilizing a deteriorating retaining wall. Restoration is still underway.

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