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The renowned Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern architecture, is now available for the first time in its whole history.

This cantilevered residence, situated in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, was listed on the listings this recent week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Owners Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its full 65-year history, released a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the property had grown too difficult to maintain.

"This house has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain it with the dedication and energy it so richly deserves," commented the offspring of the first owners.

They added that the moment had emerged to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only values its architectural importance but also understands its role in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles and further afield."

Modest Inception

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners bought a mountainous parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned representation of the city, the owners often emphasized that "no celebrities ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Feat

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

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the project. With backing from the influential Case Study program, pioneered by a prominent magazine editor, the owners received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "was about trial and error" and "utilizing new materials and building in locations that maybe before the techniques didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a regional conservancy. "All those things are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation 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 famous photograph of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photo features two women seated in the home’s living room but seeming to hover over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the enduring impact of the photo is due to the way it conveys an notion about living in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and detached from it," stated a head of an architectural practice and lecturer at a major university.

Historic Recognition

The home has made memorable cameos in cinema, broadcast and promos, 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 listed as a protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Custodianship

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

The sales details for the home highlights finding a buyer who will conserve the essence of the space.

"For connoisseurs of style, patrons of design, or organizations seeking to protect an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the description read. "This is more than a transaction; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next guardian who will honor the house’s legacy, value its design integrity, and guarantee its preservation for posterity."

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

"I believe any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is being sold of a residence like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"