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

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

Family Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the home for its full 65-year timeline, released a statement regarding their decision to sell. They noted that the dwelling had proven too difficult to upkeep.

"This residence has been the center of our lives for decades, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to maintain it with the dedication and energy it so richly deserves," commented the offspring of the initial owners.

They added that the time had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only values its architectural importance but also understands its place in the cultural history of Los Angeles and beyond."

Modest Beginnings

The origins of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the original owners bought a sloped parcel of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known representation of the city, the family often stressed that "no celebrities ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were initially wary to construct it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the owners consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to undertake the challenge. With backing from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around innovation" and "utilizing new materials and building in sites that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really enable," stated an specialist from a city preservation society. "All those things are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Famous Influence

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the image depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the city skyline.

"I believe the long-standing effect of this image is due to the way it conveys an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and separate from it," said a head of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Protected Designation

The home has enjoyed memorable cameos in cinema, television and videos, including several popular 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 conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Ownership

The home is still open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all tours are currently sold out through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a purchaser who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For collectors of architecture, supporters of design, or organizations seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply no parallel," the details read. "This is not merely a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and secure its protection for generations to come."

The authority concurred that the choice 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 being sold of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their plans will be. And do they understand and appreciate the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"