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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of modernist design, is currently listed for the very first time in its entire history.

This overhanging dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the real estate market this past week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Move to Let Go

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

"This residence has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to maintain it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," stated the descendants of the initial owners.

They further stated that the time had arrived to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only values its architectural importance but also comprehends its role in the cultural history of Los Angeles and further afield."

Modest Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned icon of the city, the residents often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were originally wary to build it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With backing from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received support to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new building materials and building in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really enable," commented an specialist from a city heritage organization. "All these elements are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, modern and unthinkable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else believed, at the time, was impossible to build."

Completion and Famous Influence

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most well-known image of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photo shows two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring effect of that photo is due to the way it communicates an concept about living in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and detached from it," commented a principal of an architectural company and educator at a major university.

Protected Recognition

The home has enjoyed memorable cameos in cinema, broadcast and promos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Ownership

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

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

"For collectors of style, patrons of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the listing say. "This goes beyond a sale; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s legacy, respect its architectural purity, and guarantee its conservation for generations to come."

The authority agreed that the decision of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"I think any time a longtime owner, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always creates a little bit of a pause – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they understand and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"