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The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern architecture, is up for sale for the very first time in its complete history.

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

Stewards Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year history, issued a declaration regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had proven excessively demanding to upkeep.

"This home has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become more difficult to maintain it with the attention and energy it so richly deserves," stated the offspring of the initial owners.

They further stated that the moment had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its place in the cultural history of the city and further afield."

Unassuming Origins

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a mountainous parcel of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known symbol of the city, the residents often emphasized that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "working-class family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Undertaking

The original design for the Stahl house was created during the warm season of 1956. However, many designers were initially wary to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the project. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, pioneered by a key magazine editor, the family received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on experimentation" and "employing new building materials and building in sites that maybe previously the engineering didn’t really permit," commented an specialist from a local heritage organization. "All those things are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was innovative, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the residents, construction cost "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after completion, a famous architectural photographer took what is possibly the most famous image of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the image shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring influence of this photograph is due to the way it conveys an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and detached from it," said a founder of an architectural practice and lecturer at a major university.

Historic Recognition

The home has enjoyed notable cameos in cinema, television and videos, including several well-known 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 included as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Custodianship

The home is still open for tours, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently fully booked through February. In their announcement announcing the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For connoisseurs of design, supporters of building, or entities seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the listing state. "This is more than a transaction; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next guardian who will honor the house’s legacy, appreciate its architectural purity, and ensure its protection for generations to come."

The expert concurred that the selection of buyer would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"I believe any time a longtime owner, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they understand and value the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"