Arguably one of the most celebrated pieces of architecture in America, Ennis House was made famous by its starring role in Blade Runner, among other Hollywood hits. Now on the property market, one lucky buyer can snap up this architectural masterpiece for a cool £18 million ($23m). From the glitz and glamour of the silver screen to teetering on the brink of destruction, let's take a tour of this iconic building and uncover its fascinating and fraught history.

In 1923, retailers Charles and Mabel Ennis commissioned America’s most cherished architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, to design a brand new house. The pad would sit in a prime elevated position high above the Hollywood Hills, in the now world-famous celebrity hot spot of Los Feliz.

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Eager to create something starkly different from his earlier designs which emphasised nature and craftsmanship, Wright turned to unusual materials, looking to use industrial concrete in an altogether more innovative way. This architectural drawing shows how the property rises up in layers of block work on its sloping plot, as though rising from ancient ruins.

Completed in 1924, Wright drew inspiration for the property from a rather unusual place – the highly-decorated Mayan temples of Mexico and Central America. He recreated the effect with a textile block design, constructed with 27,000 interlocking concrete blocks. Each was cast by hand from gravel, granite and sand that was excavated from the site itself.

With such a fascinating facade, it's no surprise that the home caught the attention of Hollywood. While it has provided a backdrop for many a blockbuster over the years, the iconic building is perhaps best known as Rick Deckard's apartment in the 1982 cult sci-fi film Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, pictured here. The interior of the Ennis House was actually rebuilt at the Warner Brothers studio, but it's clear to see the home's distinctive brick detailing in the kitchen.

The building's influence in Hollywood still continues today, with the set of Meereen Palace from Game of Thrones inspired by the property's striking architecture. You can see Wright's signature textile blocks clearly in this recent scene from the acclaimed series. Other staring roles include appearances on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twin Peaks, while a cartoon representation of Ennis House even appeared on South Park.

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The home's history hasn't always been so glamorous though. Damaged initially during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the house then partially collapsed after heavy rainfall in 2005, when it was declared an endangered historic place by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Essential restoration work was finally undertaken in 2006 and completed the following year to the tune of nearly £5.1 million ($6.5m), however, the interior of the house was still in dire need of attention.

After Mabel Ennis sold up in 1936, the home passed through several owners until billionaire Ron Burkle, a self-proclaimed Wright fan, purchased the house in 2011 for £3.5 million ($4.5m). He set about restoring the property to its former grandeur, with renovation works purportedly totalling £13.3 million ($17m). Now complete, the home's interior is nothing short of show-stopping. High ceilings and plenty of natural light allow the stunning blockwork to do all the talking.

Looking at the intricate craftsmanship, it's hard to believe that the home is made from concrete. In his autobiography, Wright explained that he chose to build with concrete blocks as they were "the cheapest and ugliest thing in the building world". He wanted to see what he could do with what he nicknamed the "gutter-rat” of construction materials.

The interior of the main house covers 10,000 square feet and offers three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Extensive views of the LA skyline are drawn into the spacious living room thanks to vast patio doors which lead out onto an idyllic south-facing terrace. We can't imagine a better way to start the day than admiring that stunning outlook.

Among the home's prized features are its 27 intricate leaded windows. Adorned in geometric patterns, they are some of the last examples of decorative glass used by Wright in his work, making them extremely rare and of high architectural importance.

The property's largest internal space, the cathedral-style dining room is one of the most impressive rooms in the property. Framed by a vast Art Deco-style window and a characterful timber ceiling, it'd make a show-stopping backdrop to any dinner party. The property's first residents, Charles and Mabel Ennis, owned a successful men's clothing store in LA, so we can only imagine the spectacular soirees that took place here.

Tucked away in an alcove in the dining room, this seamless corner window emphasises the home's breathtaking hillside position. Down below, downtown Los Angeles glitters in the sun, in what must be one of the most comprehensive bird's eye views from any home in this area.

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While Wright's signature brickwork is absent from the kitchen, the intricate designs are mirrored in the room's monotone tiling. Cabinetry and worktops are sleek and simple, lovingly restored in homage to the home's retro heyday. Money for the initial refurbishments back in 2006 was raised by the Ennis House Foundation, who received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with a construction loan from First Republic Bank to raise the £5.1 million ($6.5m) needed.

In one of the home's four bathrooms, exquisite black and red tiling steals the show, framing a sunken bath/shower. When the property originally went on the market back in 2009, it was listed for £11.8 million ($15m), however, over a period of three years, the price tag tumbled down to £3.5 million ($4.5m) – the figure at which Burkle snapped it up at it. Looking at this stunning home now, we'd say he got a pretty good deal!

In this informal dining space, Wright's architecture balances the grandeur of double-height ceilings and decadent brickwork with warm notes of wood across the window frames and furnishings. While the house was first seen on the silver screen as early as 1933, savvy movie fans might recognise the home's interior from subsequent hits such as The Karate Kid Part III, Rush Hour and The Thirteenth Floor.

This palatial pad doesn't go without a few decadent entertaining spaces. The billiard room comes complete with a bar and screening facilities so you can relive the home's Hollywood hits. Such luxury is far from rare in this area of LA – last year, Angelina Jolie snapped up a six-bedroom mansion in Los Feliz for a staggering £19.2 million ($24.5m).

When Burkle purchased the property, he was on the board of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and his care for the architecture is clear to see throughout the internal renovations. This long, decorative gallery corridor is perhaps the most attractive space in the house, lined with marble floors and framed by decorative block columns.

Decked out in a harmonious palette of wood and concrete, this bedroom is a work of art. Uplighting creates a sense of drama, while the open fireplace and timber-clad ceiling add warmth. Light is cleverly drawn into the room through the sun-drenched corridor, while a mirrored strip on the side of the wardrobe adds to the airy spacious feel.

Regarded as one of America's most prized pieces of residential architecture, Burkle's renovations are faithful to Wright's original vision in the 20s – something that's clear to see even in the bathrooms. Vintage torch-style lighting flanks the central mirror while leaded windows and Art Deco cornicing adds retro grandeur.

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Located on half an acre of land, the sizeable estate also includes a second, smaller building that's currently used as a garage. A stylish guest apartment sits above it, affording visitors plenty of privacy, while a spacious paved courtyard links the outbuilding to the grand main house.

When actor John Nesbitt bought the house in 1940, he installed an 800-square-foot swimming pool, which lies secluded on a sunny patio. The property also offers plenty of additional balconies and wraparound porches, perfect for sunbathing or stargazing. Elsewhere on the north side of the estate is a zen-like koi pond for quiet contemplation.

With views of the LA cityscape stretching as far as the eye can see, the home's elevated location is a major selling point. After construction was finished, Wright declared: "No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other."

If you've fallen in love with this extraordinary property, it's currently listed with Hilton & Hyland for £18 million ($23m). However, if you're not lucky enough to be a multi-millionaire, you can still get the chance to step inside this architectural gem. Each year, Ennis House opens to the public for 12 days. This is a binding condition for all future buyers of the estate, ensuring the door to this iconic home always remains open to fans.

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