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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of midcentury modern architectural design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This suspended home, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, hit the market this past week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Choice to Sell

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its complete 65-year timeline, released a declaration regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the property had become excessively demanding to care for.

"This residence has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," commented the children of the initial owners.

They further stated that the moment had emerged 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 landscape of the city and beyond."

Modest Origins

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the first owners acquired a sloped parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known symbol of the city, the family often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a luxury house."

Design Feat

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

In November 1957, the family met with architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the task. With backing from the prominent Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received support to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "centered around experimentation" and "using new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really permit," remarked an specialist from a local preservation society. "All these elements are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Realization and Famous Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "only $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The final product was "a perfect representation of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert noted.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the image features two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the LA skyline.

"In my opinion the long-standing influence of this photo is due to the way it expresses an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and removed from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has had memorable appearances in movies, television 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 included as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

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

The sales details for the home emphasizes finding a buyer who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of design, supporters of design, or organizations seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the details say. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next custodian who will celebrate the house’s legacy, value its original vision, and secure its protection for generations to come."

The specialist agreed that the choice of buyer would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is being sold 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 do they understand and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"