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

This cantilevered dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the listings this past week. The listing price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its entire 65-year existence, released a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They noted that the property had become excessively demanding to upkeep.

"This home has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to care for it with the dedication and effort it so richly deserves," stated the descendants of the initial owners.

They added that the moment had arrived to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural importance but also comprehends its role in the cultural fabric of the city and elsewhere."

Modest Inception

The origins of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a mountainous plot of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned representation of the city, the family often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many architects were initially hesitant to erect it on the difficult 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 support to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on innovation" and "employing new resources and building in places that maybe previously the technology didn’t really enable," remarked an expert from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are wrapped up into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Famous Legacy

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most well-known picture of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the photograph depicts two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing impact of this photograph is due to the way it expresses an idea about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and separate from it," commented a founder of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Recognition

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

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was included as a protected property 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 tours are currently fully booked through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

The property description for the home stresses finding a purchaser who will maintain the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of design, patrons of building, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no equal," the listing state. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next steward who will honor the house’s legacy, appreciate its original vision, and secure its conservation for future generations."

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

"I think any time a longtime owner, and a custodianship like this, is transferring hands of a residence like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they grasp and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"