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

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

Stewards Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its entire 65-year existence, released a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the property had proven increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This home has been the center of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain it with the dedication and energy it so richly deserves," commented the descendants of the original owners.

They further stated that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "someone who not only recognizes its architectural importance but also comprehends its place in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Humble Inception

The inception of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a hilly plot of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known representation of the city, the family often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Design Feat

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

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the owners received support to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "was about innovation" and "using new resources and constructing in locations that maybe before the engineering didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a city conservancy. "All these elements are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Completion and Famous Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after completion, a famous architectural photographer took what is possibly the most well-known image of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the image shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring influence of that photograph is due to the way it expresses an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and removed from it," stated a principal of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Cultural Status

The home has had memorable appearances in movies, TV 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.

Next Custodianship

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family said they would give "sufficient warning" before discontinuing the tours.

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

"For enthusiasts of design, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the listing say. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a handover of custody – a search for the next steward who will honor the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and ensure its protection for posterity."

The expert affirmed that the selection of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s legacy.

"I think any time a longtime owner, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a home like this, it always causes a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"