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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architectural design, is now available for the first time in its whole history.

This cantilevered home, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the listings this recent week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Decision to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its entire 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their resolution to sell. They stated that the house had proven excessively demanding to upkeep.

"This home has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the care and effort it so truly merits," commented the children of the initial owners.

They further stated that the moment had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural landscape of the city and further afield."

Modest Beginnings

The origins of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the original owners purchased a mountainous plot of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned representation of the city, the residents often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Feat

The original design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer months of 1956. However, many builders were at first hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the project. With backing from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a key magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on experimentation" and "employing new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really enable," remarked an expert from a local preservation society. "All these elements are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was innovative, modern and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Famous Influence

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority added.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer took what is arguably the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the city skyline.

"I believe the lasting impact of that image is due to the way it communicates an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a prominent university.

Protected Recognition

The home has made historic cameos in movies, television and music videos, including several well-known 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 protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Stewardship

The home is still open for public viewings, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently sold out through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will preserve the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, supporters of design, or entities seeking to protect an iconic work, there is simply nothing comparable," the details state. "This is not merely a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next custodian who will honor the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and secure its conservation for posterity."

The authority affirmed that the decision of buyer would be a critical one, given the home’s history.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a hesitation – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"