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The celebrated Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architecture, is now available for the first time in its entire history.

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, appeared on the real estate market this week. The listing price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Owners Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its full 65-year existence, shared a statement regarding their decision to sell. They expressed that the property had become increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This home has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to look after it with the dedication and energy it so truly merits," stated the descendants of the original owners.

They added that the period had come to find a new "steward" for the house – "someone who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also understands its position in the cultural history of the city and further afield."

Unassuming Origins

The beginnings of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the initial owners acquired a sloped parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a famous icon of the city, the owners often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Design Challenge

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

In November 1957, the Stahls consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the challenge. With assistance from the influential Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received support to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "was about trial and error" and "utilizing new resources and building in places that maybe before the technology didn’t really enable," remarked an expert from a city preservation society. "All these elements are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was impossible to build."

Completion and Famous Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after the build ended, a celebrated architectural photographer took what is perhaps the most iconic picture of the home. Captured through the full-length glass windows, the photograph depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring impact of this photograph is due to the way it expresses an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both metropolitan and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a major university.

Protected Designation

The home has made historic features in film, broadcast and music videos, including several famous 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.

Coming Custodianship

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The property description for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will conserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the details state. "This is not merely a transaction; it is a transfer of stewardship – a quest for the next custodian who will respect the house’s legacy, appreciate its design integrity, and secure its preservation for generations to come."

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

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