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The famous Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architectural design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its complete history.

This cantilevered residence, situated in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, hit the listings this week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Stewards Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its full 65-year history, shared a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the house had grown increasingly challenging to care for.

"This home has been the heart of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the dedication and vigor it so truly merits," commented the descendants of the first owners.

They added that the moment had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also understands its role in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and further afield."

Modest Beginnings

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners acquired a mountainous plot of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a famous symbol of the city, the owners often emphasized that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were at first wary to build it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the project. With support from the prominent Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the owners received financial aid to engage Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on innovation" and "utilizing new resources and erecting in locations that maybe before the techniques didn’t really permit," stated an expert from a city heritage organization. "All those things are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist added.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer captured what is possibly the most iconic picture of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the image shows two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the city skyline.

"I believe the enduring effect of this image is due to the way it conveys an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and separate from it," stated a head of an architectural practice and educator at a prominent university.

Protected Status

The home has made historic appearances in cinema, television and videos, including several well-known titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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

Coming Stewardship

The home is still open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently sold out through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

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

"For collectors of design, patrons of design, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing read. "This is not merely a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a quest for the next steward who will respect the house’s past, appreciate its design integrity, and secure its preservation for posterity."

The specialist concurred that the selection of new owner would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"