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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern architecture, is up for sale for the very first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills, hit the listings this past week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its entire 65-year existence, issued a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the dwelling had grown increasingly challenging to care for.

"This house has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the attention and effort it so richly deserves," wrote the offspring of the first owners.

They further stated that the period had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its design legacy but also grasps its place in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Unassuming Origins

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a sloped parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

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

Design Feat

The original design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were originally reluctant to construct it on the precarious hillside.

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

The modernist program "focused on trial and error" and "using new materials and constructing in places that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really allow," remarked an specialist from a local conservancy. "All these elements are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that location that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the family, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer took what is perhaps the most famous picture of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the image features two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I believe the long-standing effect of this photo is due to the way it communicates an notion about living in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and detached from it," said a principal of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has had notable cameos in film, broadcast and videos, including several popular 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 included as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Stewardship

The home is still open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently sold out through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family said they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours.

The sales details for the home highlights finding a buyer who will preserve the character of the space.

"For connoisseurs of style, advocates of architecture, or entities seeking to protect an national treasure, there is simply no equal," the description state. "This is not merely a purchase; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next steward who will respect the house’s past, value its design integrity, and guarantee its protection for generations to come."

The authority affirmed that the decision of new owner would be a critical one, given the home’s history.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they grasp and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"