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The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of modernist design, is now available for the first time in its entire history.

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, hit the listings this recent week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Decision to Part With

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their resolution to sell. They stated that the dwelling had proven increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to care for it with the dedication and energy it so truly merits," commented the children of the initial owners.

They added that the time had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also grasps its place in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and beyond."

Unassuming Origins

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned representation of the city, the family often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Feat

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were initially hesitant to erect it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to accept the project. With support from the influential Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received support to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "was about trial and error" and "utilizing new building materials and constructing in locations that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really enable," remarked an specialist from a regional preservation society. "All these elements are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and unthinkable in terms of how it was built on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Cultural Impact

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

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the photo depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I think the long-standing impact of that image is due to the way it conveys an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and separate from it," stated a founder of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Status

The home has had memorable cameos in movies, broadcast and music videos, including several well-known 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 Ownership

The home is still open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all appointments are currently sold out through February. In their announcement announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

The property description for the home stresses finding a buyer who will preserve the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, patrons of building, or institutions seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing state. "This goes beyond a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a search for the next custodian who will celebrate the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and guarantee its protection for future generations."

The authority concurred that the decision of buyer would be a crucial one, given the home’s past.

"I believe any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always creates a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their aims will be. And can they grasp and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"