🔗 Share this article A Legendary Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece Hits the Market for the First Time The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern architectural design, is up for sale for the very first time in its complete history. This suspended residence, situated in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the market this week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million. Stewards Choice to Part With The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its full 65-year history, issued a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They expressed that the dwelling had become increasingly challenging to maintain. "This house has been the center of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the attention and vigor it so richly deserves," commented the children of the initial owners. They continued that the time had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its position in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and beyond." Modest Origins The inception of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the first owners acquired a hilly patch of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500. Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned symbol of the city, the residents often stressed that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house." Design Undertaking The initial design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were at first hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside. In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to accept the challenge. With backing from the notable Case Study program, pioneered by a leading magazine editor, the family received support to engage Koenig. The contemporary program "focused on innovation" and "utilizing new building materials and building in sites that maybe before the techniques didn’t really permit," commented an authority from a regional heritage organization. "All these elements are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable." Completion and Famous Influence The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority added. Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer took what is possibly the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the image depicts two women seated in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline. "In my opinion the enduring impact of the photo is due to the way it expresses an concept about residing in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a leading university. Historic Status The home has had memorable features in film, TV and videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was listed as a protected property 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 tours are currently reserved through February. In their release regarding the sale, the family indicated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours. The listing for the home emphasizes finding a new owner who will conserve the character of the space. "For collectors of design, patrons of design, or organizations seeking to preserve an American masterpiece, there is simply no equal," the listing read. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s legacy, value its design integrity, and secure its protection for future generations." The specialist agreed that the decision of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s history. "In my view any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always gives us a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And do they grasp and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"