š Share this article An Iconic Mid-Century Modern Gem Enters the Market for the Very First Time The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of midcentury modern architecture, is now available for the very first time in its entire history. This overhanging home, situated in the Hollywood Hills, was listed on the market this week. The price tag stands at an impressive $25 million. Owners Choice to Sell The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its entire 65-year existence, issued a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the house had grown excessively demanding to care for. "This home has been the heart of our lives for decades, but as weāve gotten older, it has become more difficult to maintain it with the attention and vigor it so truly merits," wrote the children of the original owners. They added that the moment had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house ā "someone who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural fabric of the city and beyond." Modest Inception The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners bought a sloped parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500. Despite the Stahl house evolving into a renowned symbol of the city, the family often stressed that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a luxury house." Design Feat The first design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were originally wary to build it on the precarious hillside. In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to accept the project. With backing from the prominent Case Study program, led by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to engage Koenig. The contemporary program "centered around experimentation" and "employing new materials and building in locations that maybe before the techniques didnāt really allow," stated an specialist from a local preservation society. "All these elements are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, modern and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that site that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable." Completion and Famous Influence The Stahl house was assigned 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 move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the authority commented. Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is possibly the most iconic photograph of the home. Taken through the enormous glass windows, the photo features two women seated in the homeās living room but looking to levitate over the city skyline. "I believe the enduring impact of that photo is due to the way it conveys an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," commented a principal of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a major university. Historic Designation The home has made notable features in cinema, broadcast and promos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, the city designated the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was listed as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places. Next Custodianship The home continues to be open for visits, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their announcement announcing the sale, the family indicated they would give "sufficient warning" before stopping the tours. The property description for the home stresses finding a new owner who will preserve the essence of the space. "For collectors of design, supporters of architecture, or organizations seeking to protect an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the listing read. "This is more than a purchase; it is a handover of custody ā a hunt for the next steward who will honor the houseās legacy, respect its design integrity, and guarantee its preservation for future generations." The authority agreed that the selection of new owner would be a critical one, given the homeās history. "In my view any time a longtime owner, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a property like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause ā because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their aims will be. And will they comprehend and appreciate the house, as in this specific case the Stahl family has?"