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The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of midcentury modern architectural design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its entire history.

This overhanging dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, was listed on the market this past week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Stewards Decision to Part With

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its entire 65-year history, released a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They stated that the house had proven increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to look after it with the dedication and effort it so richly deserves," wrote the descendants of the first owners.

They added that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also understands its position in the cultural history of LA and elsewhere."

Modest Beginnings

The inception of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the original owners bought a hilly patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a well-known icon of the city, the owners often emphasized that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Feat

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

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to undertake the challenge. With backing from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a key magazine editor, the family received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "was about experimentation" and "using new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really enable," commented an authority from a regional conservancy. "All these elements are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that location that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Famous Impact

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and construction began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the expert noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most well-known photograph of the home. Shot through the full-length glass windows, the photograph shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing influence of this image is due to the way it communicates an idea about living in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both metropolitan and separate from it," commented a founder of an architectural practice and educator at a leading university.

Protected Designation

The home has made memorable cameos in movies, broadcast and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was added as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Custodianship

The home is still open for public viewings, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently fully booked through February. In their release announcing the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The property description for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply no parallel," the listing say. "This is more than a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next guardian who will honor the house’s past, respect its original vision, and guarantee its conservation for posterity."

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

"I believe any time a longtime owner, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always gives us a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they grasp and value the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"