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The celebrated Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This cantilevered residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, was listed on the listings this week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Choice to Part With

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its full 65-year existence, released a announcement regarding their resolution to sell. They expressed that the house had proven too difficult to maintain.

"This home has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the dedication and vigor it so richly deserves," stated the children of the original owners.

They continued that the period had emerged to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its design legacy but also comprehends its place in the cultural landscape of the city and beyond."

Unassuming Origins

The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the original owners bought a sloped plot of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a famous icon of the city, the owners often pointed out that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Challenge

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

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the task. With support from the prominent Case Study program, pioneered by a prominent magazine editor, the family received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around experimentation" and "using new building materials and erecting in sites that maybe earlier the engineering didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a city heritage organization. "All those things are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and construction started in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert noted.

Soon after the build ended, a famous architectural photographer captured what is possibly the most iconic picture of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photograph features two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I think the enduring effect of the photo is due to the way it communicates an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both urban and separate from it," commented a founder of an architectural company and educator at a major university.

Cultural Designation

The home has made historic appearances in movies, television and music videos, including several well-known 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 listed as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Ownership

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

The property description for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, patrons of design, or entities seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the details state. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next steward who will honor the house’s past, respect its architectural purity, and secure its preservation for posterity."

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

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always causes a little bit of a pause – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And will they understand and appreciate the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"