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

This overhanging home, situated in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the market this recent week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Choice to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the residence for its complete 65-year timeline, released a statement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the property had become increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This home has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the dedication and vigor it so rightfully warrants," commented the offspring of the first owners.

They further stated that the time had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its design legacy but also comprehends its position in the cultural fabric of LA and elsewhere."

Unassuming Origins

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

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned symbol of the city, the owners often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Feat

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

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the task. With support from the notable Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received support to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around trial and error" and "utilizing new materials and constructing in locations that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really enable," stated an specialist from a city conservancy. "Each of these factors are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Famous Influence

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction amounted to "only $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The final product was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the specialist added.

Soon after completion, a celebrated architectural photographer took what is possibly the most well-known photograph of the home. Shot through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photo shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the city skyline.

"I believe the long-standing impact of the photograph is due to the way it expresses an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and separate from it," commented a principal of an architectural practice and lecturer at a prominent university.

Cultural Status

The home has had historic appearances in film, television and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated 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.

Next Stewardship

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

The property description for the home stresses finding a new owner who will maintain the essence of the space.

"For collectors of style, advocates of design, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing read. "This is more than a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a search for the next guardian who will honor the house’s past, value its design integrity, and ensure its preservation for future generations."

The expert agreed that the selection of buyer would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"I think any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is transferring hands of a property like this, it always causes a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"