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

This overhanging dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the real estate market this recent week. The listing price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Stewards Choice to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the home for its entire 65-year timeline, issued a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the dwelling had become too difficult to maintain.

"This house has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to care for it with the care and energy it so truly merits," commented the offspring of the initial owners.

They further stated that the period had emerged to find a new "steward" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its place in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Humble Origins

The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners acquired a hilly parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a famous icon of the city, the owners often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Feat

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

In November 1957, the family met with architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to undertake the project. With support from the influential Case Study program, led by a key magazine editor, the family received support to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on experimentation" and "using new materials and constructing in sites that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really enable," remarked an specialist from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after the build ended, a famous architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most famous image of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the image features two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I think the long-standing influence of the photograph is due to the way it communicates an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," stated a founder of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has enjoyed historic cameos in movies, television and promos, including several popular 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 added as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Ownership

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their release announcing the sale, the family said they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a new owner who will maintain the character of the space.

"For collectors of style, supporters of architecture, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the details state. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next custodian who will honor the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and guarantee its protection for posterity."

The expert concurred that the decision of new owner would be a crucial one, given the home’s history.

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is transferring hands of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"