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

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the listings this past week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million.

Stewards Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its full 65-year history, shared a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the dwelling had grown increasingly challenging to maintain.

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

They added that the time had come to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural importance but also grasps its position in the cultural history of LA and further afield."

Unassuming Inception

The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the first owners bought a sloped parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a well-known symbol of the city, the residents often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were originally reluctant to construct it on the challenging hillside.

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

The modernist program "was about experimentation" and "using new resources and building in locations that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really enable," stated an expert from a regional conservancy. "All these elements are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else believed, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Cultural Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most famous image of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the photo features two women seated in the home’s living room but looking to float over the city skyline.

"I believe the lasting influence of the photo is due to the way it expresses an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and detached from it," said a founder of an architectural practice and lecturer at a prominent university.

Cultural Designation

The home has made notable appearances in film, television and videos, including several well-known 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 included as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Custodianship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all slots are currently sold out through February. In their statement announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the details state. "This is not merely a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a search for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s past, appreciate its original vision, and ensure its preservation for future generations."

The specialist affirmed that the decision of purchaser would be a crucial one, given the home’s history.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is transferring hands of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a concern – because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they understand and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"