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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern architectural design, is now available for the very first time in its complete history.

This suspended home, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, appeared on the listings this past week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its complete 65-year timeline, issued a statement regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the house had grown increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This house has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the dedication and effort it so truly merits," commented the children of the initial owners.

They continued that the time had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also grasps its place in the cultural history of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Modest Inception

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the original owners purchased a hilly patch of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

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

Construction Undertaking

The first design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were initially reluctant to build it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the task. With support from the influential Case Study program, led by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around trial and error" and "utilizing new building materials and building in locations that maybe earlier the engineering didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a local heritage organization. "All these elements are wrapped up into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Famous Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the family, construction amounted to "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the authority commented.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most iconic image of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the image shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the LA skyline.

"I believe the lasting influence of that photograph is due to the way it communicates an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and detached from it," commented a founder of an architectural firm and educator at a prominent university.

Protected Recognition

The home has had memorable appearances in film, TV and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a historic-cultural landmark, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

The home continues to be open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement regarding the sale, the family indicated they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours.

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

"For enthusiasts of style, advocates of building, or organizations seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the details state. "This is not merely a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a search for the next steward who will honor the house’s legacy, respect its design integrity, and guarantee its protection for generations to come."

The expert concurred that the selection of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"In my view any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a residence like this, it always causes a little bit of a pause – because you never know what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they grasp and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"