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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern architecture, is now available for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This suspended residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the market this week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its full 65-year history, issued a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They expressed that the house had proven too difficult to upkeep.

"This house has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," wrote the descendants of the initial owners.

They continued that the moment had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "someone who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also grasps its place in the cultural fabric of LA and elsewhere."

Modest Inception

The origins of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the first owners bought a hilly parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned symbol of the city, the family often emphasized that "nobody famous ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Feat

The original design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many architects were originally reluctant to construct it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the task. With backing from the notable Case Study program, led by a leading magazine editor, the owners received support to hire Koenig.

The contemporary program "was about trial and error" and "using new resources and building in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really enable," commented an specialist from a city preservation society. "Each of these factors are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was erected on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was impossible to build."

Realization and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building began in May 1959. According to the family, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The result was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer took what is perhaps the most famous photograph of the home. Shot through the full-length glass windows, the photo shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I think the enduring influence of that photograph is due to the way it expresses an notion about residing in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both metropolitan and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and educator at a leading university.

Historic Recognition

The home has enjoyed notable appearances in film, TV 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 included as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Custodianship

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently reserved through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home highlights finding a new owner who will conserve the essence of the space.

"For collectors of design, supporters of architecture, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply nothing comparable," the details say. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next steward who will honor the house’s legacy, respect its original vision, and guarantee its protection for generations to come."

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

"I believe any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always creates a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they comprehend and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"