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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern design, is now available for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This cantilevered dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, was listed on the listings this week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million.

Stewards Decision to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the dwelling had grown excessively demanding to care for.

"This house has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to look after it with the dedication and effort it so rightfully warrants," wrote the descendants of the first owners.

They continued that the period had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only values its architectural importance but also grasps its role in the cultural history of LA and elsewhere."

Humble Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known icon of the city, the owners often emphasized that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Design Feat

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

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With assistance from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "was about trial and error" and "utilizing new materials and building in locations that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really enable," commented an expert from a local conservancy. "Each of these factors are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Iconic Impact

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction cost "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer took what is arguably the most iconic image of the home. Captured through the full-length glass windows, the photograph depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but looking to levitate over the city skyline.

"I think the lasting impact of this image is due to the way it conveys an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and detached from it," commented a head of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Protected Status

The home has made memorable appearances in cinema, TV and videos, including several well-known titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

The home continues to be open for public viewings, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home stresses finding a purchaser who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of building, or institutions seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply nothing comparable," the details read. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next custodian who will honor the house’s past, respect its design integrity, and guarantee its protection for future generations."

The specialist affirmed that the selection of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they comprehend and value the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"