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The celebrated Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern architectural design, is up for sale for the initial occasion in its complete history.

This overhanging dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, was listed on the listings this past week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Decision to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the residence for its complete 65-year timeline, shared a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had become excessively demanding to maintain.

"This house has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the attention and vigor it so rightfully warrants," wrote the children of the initial owners.

They continued that the moment had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its architectural importance but also grasps its position in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Unassuming Beginnings

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

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned symbol of the city, the owners often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Design Challenge

The original design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were initially reluctant to build it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the owners met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the project. With backing from the influential Case Study program, led by a key magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on experimentation" and "using new materials and building in sites that maybe before the technology didn’t really permit," stated an authority from a regional preservation society. "All these elements are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unthinkable in terms of how it was built on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most famous image of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photograph shows two women seated in the home’s living room but seeming to hover over the LA skyline.

"I believe the long-standing influence of that photo is due to the way it expresses an idea about living in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural company and educator at a leading university.

Historic Designation

The home has made historic appearances in movies, TV and promos, including several well-known 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 included as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Custodianship

The home continues to be open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their statement concerning the sale, the family indicated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will conserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, advocates of design, or organizations seeking to safeguard an national treasure, there is simply no equal," the description say. "This goes beyond a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next custodian who will honor the house’s legacy, value its original vision, and ensure its conservation for generations to come."

The authority affirmed that the choice of purchaser would be a crucial one, given the home’s past.

"In my view any time a original family, and a stewardship like this, is transferring hands of a property like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they understand and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"