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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern design, is up for sale for the first time in its whole history.

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, appeared on the market this past week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Stewards Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its entire 65-year timeline, released a statement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the property had proven too difficult to maintain.

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

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

Unassuming Origins

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the original owners purchased a sloped plot of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known symbol of the city, the residents often stressed that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Challenge

The first design for the Stahl house was conceived during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were originally reluctant to build it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around innovation" and "using new building materials and erecting in locations that maybe previously the techniques didn’t really allow," stated an authority from a local preservation society. "All those things are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Iconic Impact

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer shot what is possibly the most famous picture of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the image shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I believe the enduring influence of the photo is due to the way it conveys an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and removed from it," said a head of an architectural firm and lecturer at a leading university.

Cultural Designation

The home has enjoyed notable cameos in film, broadcast and music videos, including several well-known titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was added as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Ownership

The home continues to be open for tours, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all slots are currently sold out through February. In their statement regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For connoisseurs of style, supporters of design, or entities seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the details say. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a quest for the next guardian who will respect the house’s past, respect its original vision, and secure its conservation for generations to come."

The expert concurred that the decision of new owner would be a crucial one, given the home’s history.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always causes a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they grasp and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"