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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern design, is up for sale for the first time in its entire history.

This cantilevered dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the listings this recent week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Owners Decision to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its entire 65-year history, released a declaration regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the house had grown increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to care for it with the care and vigor it so rightfully warrants," commented the descendants of the first owners.

They added that the moment had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its design legacy but also understands its place in the cultural landscape of the city and beyond."

Unassuming Beginnings

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the first owners purchased a hilly patch of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

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

Architectural Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were originally hesitant to build it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to undertake the task. With backing from the notable Case Study program, pioneered by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received support to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new materials and constructing in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really permit," remarked an specialist from a city preservation society. "Each of these factors are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Famous Impact

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and construction began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most iconic photograph of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the image features two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the lasting effect of that photo is due to the way it expresses an concept about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and separate from it," commented a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a leading university.

Historic Status

The home has enjoyed historic appearances in film, 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 historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, the house was included as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their release announcing the sale, the family said they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For collectors of architecture, patrons of architecture, or organizations seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing read. "This is not merely a sale; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next custodian who will celebrate the house’s history, value its architectural purity, and ensure its conservation for generations to come."

The authority agreed that the decision of new owner would be a critical one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a home like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their aims will be. And can they comprehend and value the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"