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The famous Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its complete history.

This overhanging home, situated in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the real estate market this past week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its complete 65-year existence, issued a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They expressed that the dwelling had grown excessively demanding to care for.

"This house has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become more difficult to care for it with the dedication and vigor it so richly deserves," stated the children of the original owners.

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

Humble Inception

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the first owners bought a hilly plot of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned representation of the city, the residents often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," describing themselves as a "working-class family living in a luxury house."

Architectural Undertaking

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer of 1956. However, many builders were at first hesitant to build it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the task. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received subsidies to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "was about experimentation" and "employing new building materials and constructing in sites that maybe before the technology didn’t really enable," stated an expert from a regional heritage organization. "Each of these factors are wrapped up into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the residents, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The result was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the authority added.

Soon after the build ended, a famous architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most famous image of the home. Captured through the full-length glass windows, the image shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring impact of this photo is due to the way it communicates an notion about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both urban and detached from it," stated a head of an architectural practice and educator at a leading university.

Protected Designation

The home has enjoyed notable appearances in movies, television and videos, including several famous 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 added as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "sufficient warning" before ending the tours.

The sales details for the home stresses finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For collectors of architecture, supporters of building, or organizations seeking to preserve an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing state. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s past, value its design integrity, and secure its conservation for posterity."

The specialist agreed that the selection of buyer would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"In my view any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a hesitation – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"