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The renowned Stahl house, a epitome of modernist architecture, is now available for the very first time in its entire history.

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the listings this recent week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Stewards Choice to Part With

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its full 65-year existence, released a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They expressed that the dwelling had grown too difficult to upkeep.

"This house has been the center of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become progressively harder to look after it with the care and vigor it so rightfully warrants," wrote the offspring of the original owners.

They further stated that the period had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "an individual who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its role in the cultural history of the city and beyond."

Humble Origins

The inception of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the first owners acquired a hilly patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a famous symbol of the city, the family often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "working-class family living in a luxury house."

Architectural Challenge

The original design for the Stahl house was created during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were initially hesitant to construct it on the challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the challenge. With assistance from the prominent Case Study program, spearheaded by a key magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to engage Koenig.

The modernist program "focused on experimentation" and "using new resources and erecting in locations that maybe previously the engineering didn’t really allow," commented an expert from a city preservation society. "Each of these factors are integrated into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unimaginable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else considered, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Iconic Legacy

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and work commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The outcome was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after construction was finished, a celebrated architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most famous photograph of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photograph depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to hover over the LA skyline.

"I believe the lasting effect of that photograph is due to the way it expresses an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both metropolitan and separate from it," said a head of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Cultural Status

The home has had memorable features in film, television and videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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

Next Custodianship

The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently fully booked through February. In their release announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

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

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the description state. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s legacy, value its architectural purity, and secure its conservation for posterity."

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

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always causes a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their plans will be. And will they understand and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"