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

This suspended residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, hit the market this past week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Choice to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year history, issued a announcement regarding their resolution to sell. They expressed that the dwelling had become increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," stated the children of the original owners.

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

Modest Origins

The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a mountainous patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a famous symbol of the city, the owners often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Construction Challenge

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were at first wary to construct it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to undertake the project. With support from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a key magazine editor, the family received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on experimentation" and "employing new materials and erecting in locations that maybe before the techniques didn’t really enable," stated an expert from a local heritage organization. "All those things are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Iconic Impact

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "only $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The result was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the specialist added.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most iconic picture of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the image features two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to hover over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the long-standing effect of that image is due to the way it conveys an concept about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both metropolitan and detached from it," commented a principal of an architectural company and lecturer at a major university.

Historic Recognition

The home has had historic appearances in cinema, television and promos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Custodianship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The property description for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of architecture, or entities seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the description state. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next steward who will respect the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and ensure its conservation for future generations."

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

"I believe any time a longtime owner, and a stewardship like this, is transferring hands 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 appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"