🔗 Share this article A Fabled Midcentury Modern Jewel Reaches the Market for the First Time The famous Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern architectural design, is now available for the first time in its entire history. This suspended residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the listings this week. The listing price stands at a substantial $25 million. Stewards Choice to Sell The Stahl family, who have held title to the home for its entire 65-year existence, issued a declaration 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 many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to care for it with the dedication and effort it so rightfully warrants," wrote the children of the first owners. They added that the time had arrived to find a new "steward" for the house – "a person who not only values its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural history of Los Angeles and further afield." Humble Beginnings The inception of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners acquired a sloped parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500. Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known symbol of the city, the family often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house." Construction Undertaking The original design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many architects were initially hesitant to construct it on the difficult hillside. In November 1957, the owners interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the challenge. With support from the notable Case Study program, led by a key magazine editor, the owners received support to commission Koenig. The progressive program "centered around trial and error" and "employing new materials and constructing in locations that maybe earlier the techniques didn’t really permit," remarked an expert from a local preservation society. "All those things are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and inconceivable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else thought, at the time, was unbuildable." Completion and Iconic Influence The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and construction commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The final product was "an idealized version of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the specialist noted. Soon after the build ended, a celebrated architectural photographer shot what is possibly the most iconic picture of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph depicts two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to hover over the Los Angeles skyline. "In my opinion the lasting impact of that photograph is due to the way it communicates an notion about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," said a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a major university. Cultural Status The home has enjoyed historic cameos in film, broadcast and music videos, including several well-known titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, the city recognized the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places. Future Custodianship The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently reserved through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family said they would give "sufficient warning" before ending the tours. The property description for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will maintain the character of the space. "For enthusiasts of style, supporters of building, or entities seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the listing read. "This is not merely a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next custodian who will honor the house’s legacy, value its design integrity, and guarantee its protection for generations to come." The expert concurred that the selection of purchaser would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy. "I believe any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always causes a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their plans will be. And can they grasp and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"