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

This overhanging dwelling, situated in the Hollywood Hills, hit the market this week. The listing price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its full 65-year history, shared a statement regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the house had proven excessively demanding to upkeep.

"This residence has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the dedication and vigor it so truly merits," wrote the offspring of the first owners.

They added that the period had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also understands its role in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and beyond."

Humble Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house growing into a well-known icon of the city, the residents often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Challenge

The first design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were originally reluctant to build it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to undertake the task. With assistance from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the owners received support to engage Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new resources and erecting in locations that maybe previously the technology didn’t really allow," remarked an authority from a city conservancy. "All these elements are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was impossible to build."

Completion and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the residents, construction amounted to "only $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert added.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most iconic picture of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photograph features two women seated in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the city skyline.

"I believe the enduring effect of the photograph is due to the way it expresses an notion about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and detached from it," stated a founder of an architectural practice and educator at a leading university.

Protected Designation

The home has had notable cameos in movies, broadcast and music videos, including several well-known 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 included as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

The home is still open for public viewings, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently sold out through February. In their release regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before stopping the tours.

The sales details for the home highlights finding a new owner who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of building, or entities seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no equal," the description read. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will honor the house’s legacy, appreciate its architectural purity, and ensure its protection for future generations."

The expert concurred that the selection of purchaser would be a critical one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is being sold of a residence 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 do they comprehend and value the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"