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The famous Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern design, is up for sale for the very first time in its whole history.

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

Stewards Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the residence for its complete 65-year existence, released a declaration regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the house had grown excessively demanding to care for.

"This home has been the center of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to look after it with the dedication and effort it so truly merits," stated the descendants of the initial owners.

They continued that the period had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "someone who not only values its design legacy but also grasps its role in the cultural history of the city and beyond."

Unassuming Origins

The beginnings of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a sloped parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a well-known icon of the city, the residents often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Construction Feat

The original design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were initially hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the owners interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the challenge. With backing from the notable Case Study program, led by a leading magazine editor, the family received support to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around trial and error" and "using new materials and constructing in places that maybe previously the technology didn’t really enable," commented an authority from a city conservancy. "Each of these factors are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer took what is perhaps the most famous picture of the home. Captured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph depicts two women sitting in the home’s living room but looking to float over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the long-standing impact of this photo is due to the way it conveys an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and separate from it," said a founder of an architectural company and educator at a leading university.

Cultural Recognition

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

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

Coming Custodianship

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their statement regarding the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

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

"For connoisseurs of style, supporters of building, or institutions seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply nothing comparable," the description read. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s legacy, appreciate its design integrity, and ensure its protection for posterity."

The specialist agreed that the selection of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s history.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"