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

This cantilevered dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, hit the listings 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 property for its entire 65-year history, issued a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the house had grown excessively demanding to maintain.

"This house has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve aged, it has become progressively harder to care for it with the dedication and energy it so rightfully warrants," wrote the descendants of the first owners.

They further stated that the time had come to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only values its architectural importance but also understands its place in the cultural history of Los Angeles and elsewhere."

Humble Inception

The beginnings of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the original owners purchased a sloped patch of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a renowned symbol of the city, the owners often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Construction Challenge

The original design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were at first wary to erect it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the task. With support from the influential Case Study program, pioneered by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to commission Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on innovation" and "utilizing new building materials and constructing in places that maybe earlier the technology didn’t really allow," stated an expert from a city preservation society. "All these elements are integrated into a place like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Famous Influence

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after completion, a celebrated architectural photographer took what is perhaps the most famous image of the home. Shot through the full-length glass windows, the photo shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but looking to float over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I think the lasting influence of the photo is due to the way it communicates an notion about residing in Los Angeles, an duality about being both in the city and removed from it," said a principal of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a major university.

Protected Status

The home has made historic appearances in movies, television and music 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 protected property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Future Stewardship

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their release concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours.

The listing for the home emphasizes finding a new owner who will maintain the essence of the space.

"For connoisseurs of architecture, patrons of architecture, or institutions seeking to safeguard an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing state. "This is more than a transaction; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next steward who will celebrate the house’s past, appreciate its architectural purity, and secure its conservation for future generations."

The specialist concurred that the choice of new owner would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a original family, and a custodianship like this, is transferring hands 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 intentions will be. And do they grasp and cherish the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"