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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its entire history.

This overhanging residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, appeared on the listings this recent week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Choice to Part With

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its entire 65-year existence, released a declaration regarding their decision 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 progressively harder to care for it with the care and energy it so richly deserves," wrote the descendants of the original owners.

They continued that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "someone who not only recognizes its architectural importance but also grasps its role in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and further afield."

Unassuming Origins

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the original owners acquired a hilly patch of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a famous representation of the city, the family often emphasized that "nobody famous ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Challenge

The original design for the Stahl house was created during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were originally reluctant to build it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the task. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new resources and constructing in places that maybe earlier the engineering didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a city preservation society. "All these elements are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and unthinkable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Famous Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photograph features two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the city skyline.

"I believe the lasting influence of the 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," said a principal of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a major university.

Historic Recognition

The home has enjoyed notable cameos in movies, broadcast and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Custodianship

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family said they would give "sufficient warning" before discontinuing the tours.

The property description for the home stresses finding a purchaser who will maintain the essence of the space.

"For connoisseurs of architecture, patrons of architecture, or organizations seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the listing read. "This is more than a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next guardian who will celebrate the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and guarantee its conservation for generations to come."

The expert affirmed that the selection of purchaser would be a vital one, given the home’s legacy.

"In my view any time a longtime owner, and a guardianship 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 understand and appreciate the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"