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The famous Stahl house, a paragon of modernist architecture, is now available for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This cantilevered dwelling, perched in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, hit the listings this week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Decision to Part With

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its entire 65-year timeline, issued a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had proven too difficult to maintain.

"This home has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the care and effort it so rightfully warrants," wrote the children of the first owners.

They further stated that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and beyond."

Modest Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a famous representation of the city, the family often stressed that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many builders were initially hesitant to erect it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the owners interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to take on the challenge. With assistance from the notable Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received subsidies to engage Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around experimentation" and "utilizing new building materials and erecting in locations that maybe before the techniques didn’t really allow," remarked an specialist from a city heritage organization. "All these elements are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Realization and Famous Legacy

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

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

"I think the enduring impact of the image is due to the way it communicates an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and removed from it," stated a principal of an architectural company and educator at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has enjoyed notable cameos in cinema, broadcast and promos, including several famous 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 listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Ownership

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "sufficient warning" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a purchaser who will maintain the character of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, patrons of design, or organizations seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the listing read. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will respect the house’s history, value its architectural purity, and secure its preservation for generations to come."

The expert affirmed that the choice of new owner would be a critical one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always causes a little bit of a hesitation – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they grasp and value the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"