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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of modernist architectural design, is now available for the first time in its whole history.

This cantilevered home, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, appeared on the real estate market this past week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its entire 65-year timeline, released a statement regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the house had proven increasingly challenging to care for.

"This residence has been the heart of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the dedication and vigor it so richly deserves," stated the descendants of the first owners.

They continued that the moment had emerged to find a new "steward" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its design legacy but also grasps its position in the cultural fabric of the city and further afield."

Humble Beginnings

The beginnings of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the first owners purchased a hilly plot of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned symbol of the city, the residents often pointed out that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Undertaking

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

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the project. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the family received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around experimentation" and "employing new building materials and building in sites that maybe earlier the engineering didn’t really allow," stated an authority from a regional preservation society. "All those things are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion 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 "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

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

"I think the long-standing effect of this image is due to the way it conveys an concept about living in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both metropolitan and removed from it," said a principal of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a prominent university.

Protected Designation

The home has made notable appearances in movies, broadcast and videos, 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 protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Custodianship

The home is still open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a new owner who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the details say. "This is not merely a sale; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will honor the house’s history, appreciate its architectural purity, and ensure its preservation for generations to come."

The authority concurred that the decision of buyer would be a crucial one, given the home’s history.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"