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The celebrated Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architecture, is currently listed for the first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, was listed on the listings this past week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year timeline, shared a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They stated that the property had become too difficult to maintain.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to look after it with the attention and energy it so richly deserves," stated the offspring of the original owners.

They added that the time had emerged to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its architectural importance but also comprehends its position in the cultural fabric of the city and beyond."

Unassuming Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a famous symbol of the city, the family often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Challenge

The original design for the Stahl house was conceived during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were originally hesitant to erect it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the task. With assistance from the influential Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received subsidies to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "was about innovation" and "utilizing new building materials and constructing in places that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really allow," stated an expert from a local heritage organization. "All those things are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was innovative, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Cultural Legacy

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and construction started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer captured what is possibly the most famous picture of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the photo depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing effect of the photograph is due to the way it conveys an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and removed from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Recognition

The home has enjoyed historic features in film, television and promos, including several well-known titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, the house was added as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home stresses finding a buyer who will maintain the essence of the space.

"For connoisseurs of architecture, advocates of design, or organizations seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the listing read. "This goes beyond a sale; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next guardian who will honor the house’s legacy, value its architectural purity, and secure its protection for generations to come."

The specialist agreed that the decision of purchaser would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"