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The celebrated Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern design, is now available for the first time in its entire history.

This suspended residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the market this week. The listing price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its full 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their decision to sell. They noted that the property had become increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This residence has been the heart of our lives for many years, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become more difficult to care for it with the dedication and effort it so richly deserves," wrote the offspring of the initial owners.

They further stated that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "someone who not only values its architectural importance but also comprehends its role in the cultural fabric of the city and beyond."

Modest Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house growing into a well-known symbol of the city, the residents often emphasized that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Challenge

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer months of 1956. However, many builders were originally hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the task. With support from the notable Case Study program, led by a key magazine editor, the owners received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "was about trial and error" and "employing new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe previously the technology didn’t really enable," stated an authority from a city heritage organization. "All these elements are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Cultural Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after the build ended, a renowned architectural photographer took what is possibly the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the photo shows two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring influence of this image is due to the way it communicates an notion about residing in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and removed from it," commented a head of an architectural practice and educator at a leading university.

Protected Status

The home has had memorable appearances in cinema, broadcast 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 listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

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 regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before stopping the tours.

The sales details for the home stresses finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For connoisseurs of style, supporters of architecture, or institutions seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the details read. "This is not merely a purchase; it is a handover of custody – a quest for the next guardian who will celebrate the house’s legacy, appreciate its original vision, and guarantee its preservation for posterity."

The expert agreed that the decision of purchaser would be a vital one, given the home’s history.

"I think any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And do they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"