🔗 Share this article

The celebrated Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern design, is up for sale for the first time in its complete history.

This cantilevered home, situated in the Hollywood Hills, appeared on the real estate market this week. The price tag stands at a substantial $25 million.

Family Decision to Sell

The Stahl family, who have held title to the property for its full 65-year existence, issued a declaration regarding their resolution to sell. They noted that the house had become excessively demanding to care for.

"This residence has been the center of our lives for decades, but as we’ve grown older, it has become more difficult to look after it with the care and effort it so richly deserves," commented the offspring of the first owners.

They added that the time had emerged to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its architectural significance but also grasps its position in the cultural history of LA and beyond."

Humble Origins

The origins of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the first owners bought a hilly plot of land in the at the time undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house evolving into a well-known icon of the city, the owners often stressed that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "working-class family living in a luxury house."

Construction Undertaking

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 challenging hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls met with architect Pierre Koenig, who agreed to undertake the challenge. With assistance from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the family received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The modernist program "centered around innovation" and "utilizing new building materials and constructing in locations that maybe previously the techniques didn’t really permit," commented an expert from a regional heritage organization. "All those things are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was constructed on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Cultural Impact

The Stahl house was designated 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 completed by May 1960. The outcome was "a perfect representation of what everyone thinks LA is and should be," the specialist commented.

Soon after completion, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most iconic picture of the home. Captured through the enormous glass windows, the photograph shows two women sitting in the home’s living room but seeming to float over the LA skyline.

"I believe the enduring impact of this image is due to the way it expresses an idea about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and detached from it," commented a founder of an architectural practice and educator at a prominent university.

Cultural Designation

The home has made notable cameos in cinema, television and music videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city designated 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 Custodianship

The home is still open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family said they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home emphasizes finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, patrons of building, or entities seeking to preserve an national treasure, there is simply no parallel," the description say. "This goes beyond a sale; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will honor the house’s history, respect its original vision, and guarantee its preservation for future generations."

The specialist affirmed that the selection of purchaser would be a crucial one, given the home’s legacy.

"I think any time a original family, and a guardianship like this, is transferring hands of a property like this, it always causes a little bit of a concern – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they comprehend and cherish the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"