🔗 Share this article

The renowned Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern design, is currently listed for the very first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered residence, perched in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the listings this past week. The asking price stands at an impressive $25 million.

Family Move to Sell

The Stahl family, who have owned the property for its complete 65-year existence, issued a declaration regarding their choice to sell. They stated that the dwelling had become too difficult to upkeep.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for many years, but as we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly challenging to care for it with the care and energy it so truly merits," commented the children of the original owners.

They continued that the time had emerged to find a new "steward" for the house – "someone who not only values its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and further afield."

Unassuming Origins

The beginnings of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the first owners bought a mountainous parcel of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a famous icon of the city, the residents often stressed that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a white-collar house."

Architectural Feat

The first design for the Stahl house was developed during the warm season of 1956. However, many builders were originally hesitant to erect it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the project. With support from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The contemporary program "focused on innovation" and "employing new building materials and constructing in places that maybe previously the engineering didn’t really permit," stated an specialist from a regional conservancy. "Each of these factors are combined into a property like the Stahl house, which was avant-garde, modern and unimaginable in terms of how it was constructed on that location that everyone else believed, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and building began in May 1959. According to the owners, construction cost "just $37,500" and the home was move-in ready by May 1960. The outcome was "an idealized version of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after the build ended, a famous architectural photographer shot what is possibly the most well-known image of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photo shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but looking to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"I think the enduring influence of that photo is due to the way it conveys an notion about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and removed from it," commented a principal of an architectural practice and lecturer at a major university.

Protected Recognition

The home has had memorable appearances in movies, television and promos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city recognized 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 slots are currently fully booked through February. In their statement regarding the sale, the family said they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a new owner who will preserve the essence of the space.

"For enthusiasts of architecture, advocates of architecture, or organizations seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the description read. "This goes beyond a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a hunt for the next custodian who will respect the house’s legacy, appreciate its design integrity, and guarantee its conservation for generations to come."

The specialist concurred that the decision of purchaser would be a critical one, given the home’s legacy.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership 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 unique case the Stahl family has?"