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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of midcentury modern design, is currently listed for the very first time in its whole history.

This overhanging residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills, appeared on the market this recent week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Owners Choice to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the residence for its entire 65-year history, released a statement regarding their resolution to sell. They expressed that the house had become increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This home has been the heart of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the care and effort it so rightfully warrants," commented the descendants of the first owners.

They further stated that the period had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only values its architectural significance but also understands its place in the cultural history of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Humble Beginnings

The inception of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the initial owners acquired a hilly patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

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

Design Feat

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the warm season of 1956. However, many designers were originally hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the project. With assistance from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the family received support to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on experimentation" and "using new materials and building in places that maybe before the technology didn’t really enable," stated an authority from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was innovative, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and construction commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "a perfect representation of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the specialist added.

Soon after completion, a famous architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Shot through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph features two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I think the enduring effect of this photo is due to the way it conveys an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an duality about being both metropolitan and separate from it," said a principal of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Cultural Designation

The home has enjoyed notable appearances in movies, TV and music videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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

Next Ownership

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours.

The property description for the home highlights finding a buyer who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For connoisseurs of architecture, supporters of architecture, or organizations seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the description state. "This is more than a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next guardian who will respect the house’s past, appreciate its design integrity, and ensure its conservation for future generations."

The authority agreed that the choice of purchaser would be a vital one, given the home’s legacy.

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is transferring hands of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"