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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architecture, is currently listed for the very first time in its entire history.

This suspended dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills, appeared on the market this past week. The listing price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Stewards Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the property for its complete 65-year existence, shared a announcement regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the house had grown excessively demanding to care for.

"This residence has been the heart of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the dedication and energy it so truly merits," commented the offspring of the first owners.

They further stated that the period had emerged to find a new "custodian" for the house – "someone who not only values its architectural significance but also understands its role in the cultural landscape of the city and elsewhere."

Unassuming Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known icon of the city, the owners often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a luxury house."

Design Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were originally wary to erect it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the owners interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the task. With support from the prominent Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the owners received support to engage Koenig.

The contemporary program "centered around innovation" and "using new building materials and constructing in places that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really permit," remarked an expert from a local preservation society. "All those things are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Iconic Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The final product was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most famous picture of the home. Captured through the full-length glass windows, the photo depicts two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the LA skyline.

"In my opinion the lasting influence of this photo is due to the way it conveys an notion about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural company and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Recognition

The home has enjoyed historic appearances in movies, television and videos, including several popular 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 added as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Ownership

The home is still open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their statement announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "ample notice" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a new owner who will maintain the essence of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, patrons of design, or organizations seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the details say. "This is not merely a transaction; it is a handover of custody – a quest for the next guardian who will celebrate the house’s history, respect its design integrity, and guarantee its conservation for posterity."

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

"I believe any time a longtime owner, and a stewardship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always causes a little bit of a pause – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they understand and appreciate the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"