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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern architectural design, is currently listed for the very first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered home, situated in the Hollywood Hills area, appeared on the market this week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million.

Owners Choice to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the home for its complete 65-year existence, shared a declaration regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the house had grown increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This house has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain it with the attention and effort it so rightfully warrants," stated the descendants of the original owners.

They further stated that the moment had come to find a new "guardian" for the house – "someone who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural history of Los Angeles and further afield."

Unassuming Origins

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners bought a sloped parcel of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known representation of the city, the residents often pointed out that "no famous individuals ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Design Challenge

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many builders were originally hesitant to construct it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the challenge. With support from the notable Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the family received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The modernist program "was about innovation" and "employing new building materials and erecting in places that maybe before the techniques didn’t really allow," remarked an expert from a regional preservation society. "All those things are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Cultural Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and construction commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "just $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The outcome was "an idealized version of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer took what is arguably the most famous picture of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the photograph features two women positioned in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing impact of that photo is due to the way it conveys an concept about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both urban and detached from it," commented a principal of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Protected Recognition

The home has enjoyed historic features in film, TV and music videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Stewardship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will conserve the character of the space.

"For connoisseurs of design, supporters of building, or institutions seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the description state. "This is not merely a sale; it is a transfer of stewardship – a search for the next guardian who will honor the house’s legacy, appreciate its architectural purity, and guarantee its preservation for posterity."

The expert concurred that the decision of buyer would be a crucial one, given the home’s history.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always causes a little bit of a concern – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And can they grasp and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"