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The celebrated Stahl house, a epitome of midcentury modern architecture, is now available for the very first time in its whole history.

This suspended dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the market this past week. The listing price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Decision to Part With

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its entire 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their decision to sell. They expressed that the property had proven increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This home has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain it with the care and vigor it so richly deserves," commented the descendants of the initial owners.

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

Modest Origins

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the first owners bought a mountainous plot of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

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

Architectural Challenge

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

In November 1957, the Stahls interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to take on the challenge. With support from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the family received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe previously the technology didn’t really enable," stated an authority from a local conservancy. "All those things are wrapped up into a site like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the family, construction cost "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer took what is arguably the most iconic photograph of the home. Shot through the full-length glass windows, the image depicts two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the long-standing influence of the photo is due to the way it communicates an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and separate from it," said a principal of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Designation

The home has made notable features in cinema, television 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 protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Ownership

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently sold out through February. In their release announcing the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The sales details for the home emphasizes finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, advocates of architecture, or institutions seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the description say. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a transfer of stewardship – a search for the next guardian who will celebrate the house’s history, appreciate its original vision, and ensure its conservation for future generations."

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 being sold of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they understand and appreciate the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"