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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of modernist design, is now available for the very first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered dwelling, situated in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, appeared on the market this week. The asking price stands at a notable $25 million.

Owners Move to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have owned the home for its entire 65-year timeline, issued a announcement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the property had become increasingly challenging to care for.

"This home has been the heart of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become progressively harder to look after it with the dedication and energy it so richly deserves," stated the children of the initial owners.

They further stated that the time had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also grasps its place in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and beyond."

Humble Beginnings

The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the first owners bought a mountainous patch of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned representation of the city, the residents often stressed that "no famous individuals ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Architectural Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer months of 1956. However, many architects were originally reluctant to construct it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the owners consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the project. With backing from the influential Case Study program, led by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received subsidies to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "centered around experimentation" and "employing new building materials and erecting in locations that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really allow," stated an authority from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "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 authority commented.

Soon after the build ended, a celebrated architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph features two women seated in the home’s living room but seeming to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I believe the lasting effect of that photo is due to the way it conveys an notion about living in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and separate from it," commented a founder of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Recognition

The home has made memorable features in cinema, TV and promos, 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 included as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Ownership

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all slots are currently sold out through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family indicated they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The property description for the home highlights finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, supporters of design, or entities seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply no parallel," the listing say. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s history, value its original vision, and guarantee its preservation for generations to come."

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

"I think any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a home like this, it always causes a little bit of a pause – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their plans will be. And do they grasp and value the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"