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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of midcentury modern architectural design, is now available for the very first time in its entire history.

This suspended home, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the market this past week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Stewards Choice to Sell

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its complete 65-year history, shared a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the property had proven increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to look after it with the attention and energy it so truly merits," wrote the children of the original owners.

They continued that the moment had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "someone who not only values its design legacy but also understands its position in the cultural history of Los Angeles and beyond."

Unassuming Origins

The inception of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the first owners acquired a sloped patch of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned representation of the city, the family often pointed out that "no famous individuals ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Construction Feat

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

In November 1957, the family met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With backing from the notable Case Study program, pioneered by a key magazine editor, the family received support to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "was about innovation" and "utilizing new building materials and building in locations that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really permit," remarked an specialist from a local preservation society. "Each of these factors are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and construction began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "just $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after the build ended, a celebrated architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most iconic picture of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photograph depicts two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I think the enduring influence of the photo is due to the way it expresses an notion about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and separate from it," said a principal of an architectural practice and educator at a leading university.

Cultural Status

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

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was included as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Ownership

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement regarding the sale, the family said they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The property description for the home stresses finding a purchaser who will conserve the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of design, supporters of architecture, or entities seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no equal," the details state. "This is not merely a sale; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will honor the house’s past, appreciate its design integrity, and ensure its protection for future generations."

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

"In my view any time a original family, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they understand and cherish the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"