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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern architectural design, is up for sale for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This suspended dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the market this past week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Choice to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its entire 65-year timeline, shared a statement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had grown increasingly challenging to maintain.

"This home has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the care and effort it so truly merits," commented the offspring of the first owners.

They added that the time had come to find a new "steward" for the house – "someone who not only appreciates its design legacy but also grasps its place in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Modest Inception

The inception of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the initial owners bought a sloped patch of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a famous representation of the city, the residents often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Construction Challenge

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

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the task. With support from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the owners received subsidies to hire Koenig.

The modernist program "focused on experimentation" and "utilizing new materials and erecting in places that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really permit," commented an specialist from a regional preservation society. "All these elements are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that location that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Famous Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority added.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer took what is arguably the most iconic image of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the photo features two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the LA skyline.

"I think the long-standing influence of that photo is due to the way it conveys an idea about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and removed from it," commented a principal of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has enjoyed notable cameos in cinema, broadcast and music videos, 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.

Coming Stewardship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home stresses finding a buyer who will preserve the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of building, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply nothing comparable," the details read. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a quest for the next steward who will honor the house’s past, value its original vision, and guarantee its preservation for posterity."

The expert agreed that the choice of purchaser would be a critical one, given the home’s past.

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always gives us a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And do they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"