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

This cantilevered residence, situated in the Hollywood Hills, appeared on the listings this past week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have held title to the home for its complete 65-year history, issued a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had grown excessively demanding to upkeep.

"This house has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve aged, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the care and effort it so truly merits," wrote the offspring of the original owners.

They further stated that the moment had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "someone who not only recognizes its architectural importance but also grasps its place in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and beyond."

Humble Origins

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

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned symbol of the city, the residents often stressed that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a luxury house."

Construction Undertaking

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were originally wary to erect it on the challenging hillside.

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

The progressive program "focused on trial and error" and "utilizing new materials and constructing in locations that maybe before the engineering didn’t really enable," remarked an expert from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are integrated into a place 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 impossible to build."

Realization and Cultural Legacy

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "only $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The result was "an idealized version of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority noted.

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

"I think the enduring impact of the image is due to the way it conveys an idea about living in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and removed from it," said a principal of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a major university.

Historic Recognition

The home has had historic cameos in movies, TV and music videos, including several famous 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 protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently fully booked through February. In their release regarding the sale, the family said they would give "sufficient warning" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home stresses finding a buyer who will conserve the character of the space.

"For collectors of architecture, supporters of design, or organizations seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the description read. "This is more than a purchase; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next custodian who will celebrate the house’s history, respect its original vision, and secure its protection for generations to come."

The authority agreed that the decision of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship 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 plans will be. And can they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"