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The celebrated Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern design, is now available for the first time in its whole history.

This overhanging dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the market this past week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Stewards Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the residence for its complete 65-year existence, issued a statement regarding their resolution to sell. They expressed that the property had proven increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This house has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to care for it with the attention and vigor it so richly deserves," wrote the descendants of the initial owners.

They added that the period had come to find a new "steward" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also understands its role in the cultural history of LA and beyond."

Humble Inception

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

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known icon of the city, the family often emphasized that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Design Challenge

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many architects were at first reluctant to erect it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to undertake the task. With backing from the influential Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the owners received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on trial and error" and "utilizing new resources and erecting in locations that maybe previously the engineering didn’t really enable," stated an authority from a local preservation society. "Each of these factors are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Completion and Cultural Legacy

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

Soon after the build ended, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Captured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photo depicts two women sitting in the home’s living room but looking to float over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing influence of that photograph is due to the way it expresses an concept about living in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and detached from it," commented a principal of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a major university.

Protected Status

The home has had notable cameos in film, TV and promos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Stewardship

The home is still open for tours, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "sufficient warning" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home stresses finding a buyer who will conserve the spirit of the space.

"For collectors of design, supporters of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the details say. "This is more than a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s legacy, respect its design integrity, and ensure its conservation for posterity."

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

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