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The famous Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern architecture, is now available for the very first time in its whole history.

This overhanging home, situated in the Hollywood Hills, hit the real estate market this past week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its full 65-year timeline, issued a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They expressed that the dwelling had proven excessively demanding to care for.

"This home has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to care for it with the dedication and energy it so richly deserves," stated the offspring of the initial owners.

They continued that the time had come to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its position in the cultural landscape of the city and further afield."

Humble Beginnings

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the first owners purchased a sloped plot of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known representation of the city, the owners often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Feat

The original design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many architects were at first wary to erect it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the project. With support from the prominent Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the family received support to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around innovation" and "using new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really allow," commented an specialist from a city heritage organization. "All these elements are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Realization and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction cost "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the expert added.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most famous photograph of the home. Captured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the image features two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I believe the enduring influence of the image is due to the way it conveys an notion about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both metropolitan and removed from it," said a head of an architectural practice and lecturer at a leading university.

Historic Designation

The home has enjoyed memorable features in cinema, television and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was added as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Custodianship

The home continues to be open for tours, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently reserved through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home stresses finding a purchaser who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, patrons of building, or entities seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the description read. "This is not merely a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a search for the next steward who will honor the house’s history, appreciate its original vision, and ensure its conservation for posterity."

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

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they understand and value the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"