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The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of mid-century modern architecture, is currently listed for the very first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered home, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, hit the listings this past week. The asking price stands at a substantial $25 million.

Stewards Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its complete 65-year timeline, released a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the dwelling had become increasingly challenging to care for.

"This house has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the dedication and vigor it so richly deserves," wrote the offspring of the first owners.

They continued that the moment had come to find a new "steward" for the house – "someone who not only values its architectural significance but also grasps its role in the cultural landscape of the city and beyond."

Humble Origins

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the initial owners purchased a mountainous patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a famous icon of the city, the residents often pointed out that "no famous individuals ever lived here," describing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Challenge

The initial design for the Stahl house was created during the summer months of 1956. However, many architects were originally hesitant to build it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the family interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to take on the project. With support from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received support to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "was about innovation" and "utilizing new materials and constructing in sites that maybe previously the technology didn’t really permit," stated an expert from a city conservancy. "Each of these factors are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was built on that site that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Completion and Cultural Legacy

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "only $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The result was "the ultimate vision of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the specialist noted.

Soon after the build ended, a renowned architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most famous photograph of the home. Captured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the photograph features two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to float over the city skyline.

"I think the lasting impact of that photograph is due to the way it conveys an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both urban and detached from it," stated a principal of an architectural firm and lecturer at a leading university.

Historic Designation

The home has had historic features in film, broadcast and promos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated the Stahl house a protected monument, and in 2013, the house was included as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Stewardship

The home remains open for public viewings, as it has been for the last 17 years, although all tours are currently fully booked 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 stresses finding a buyer who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For collectors of architecture, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply nothing comparable," the description state. "This is more than a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next guardian who will celebrate the house’s legacy, respect its architectural purity, and secure its protection for posterity."

The authority agreed that the selection of buyer would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"I think any time a longtime owner, and a custodianship like this, is being sold of a home like this, it always creates a little bit of a concern – because you never know what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they understand and appreciate the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"