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

This cantilevered residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the market this past week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Stewards Choice to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its full 65-year existence, shared a statement regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the property had grown excessively demanding to care for.

"This home has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to maintain it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," wrote the children of the original owners.

They added that the moment had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "an individual who not only values its design legacy but also comprehends its position in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and further afield."

Humble Beginnings

The beginnings of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the original owners acquired a hilly parcel of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known symbol of the city, the family often emphasized that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Challenge

The initial design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were originally wary to construct it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the challenge. With backing from the prominent Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the family received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The modernist program "was about trial and error" and "employing new materials and constructing in sites that maybe before the technology didn’t really allow," stated an specialist from a city heritage organization. "All these elements are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction amounted to "just $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist commented.

Soon after the build ended, a renowned architectural photographer took what is possibly the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photograph depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the lasting influence of this image is due to the way it communicates an concept about living in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and separate from it," commented a principal of an architectural firm and educator at a prominent university.

Cultural Designation

The home has enjoyed historic appearances in cinema, television and videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, the house was included as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

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

The property description for the home highlights finding a new owner who will maintain the character of the space.

"For connoisseurs of architecture, patrons of design, or organizations seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply no parallel," the listing read. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s history, value its design integrity, and ensure its preservation for generations to come."

The expert concurred that the selection of purchaser would be a critical one, given the home’s past.

"I believe any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is transferring hands of a home like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And will they understand and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"