🔗 Share this article

The celebrated Stahl house, a paragon of mid-century modern design, is currently listed for the initial occasion in its whole history.

This overhanging dwelling, situated in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, hit the listings this week. The asking price stands at a notable $25 million.

Stewards Choice to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the home for its complete 65-year existence, issued a announcement regarding their resolution to sell. They expressed that the property had proven too difficult to upkeep.

"This house has been the core of our lives for decades, but as we’ve aged, it has become more difficult to care for it with the attention and vigor it so richly deserves," commented the children of the initial owners.

They continued that the time had arrived to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only values its architectural importance but also understands its position in the cultural landscape of LA and further afield."

Unassuming Beginnings

The beginnings of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the original owners bought a hilly plot of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills neighborhood for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known representation of the city, the residents often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Architectural Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer months of 1956. However, many designers were at first reluctant to build it on the precarious hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls interviewed architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to accept the project. With assistance from the notable Case Study program, spearheaded by a leading magazine editor, the Stahls received support to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on trial and error" and "employing new materials and erecting in places that maybe before the techniques didn’t really enable," stated an expert from a local heritage organization. "All those things are wrapped up into a site like the Stahl house, which was innovative, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Iconic Influence

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and building commenced in May 1959. According to the owners, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The outcome was "the ultimate vision of what everyone envisions LA is and should be," the expert noted.

Soon after completion, a celebrated architectural photographer shot what is perhaps the most iconic image of the home. Taken through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the image shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the city skyline.

"I think the long-standing effect of that photo is due to the way it communicates an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both metropolitan and removed from it," said a principal of an architectural company and lecturer at a prominent university.

Cultural Status

The home has had historic features in movies, TV and promos, 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.

Next Custodianship

The home remains open for visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all slots are currently reserved through February. In their statement announcing the sale, the family stated they would give "ample notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The listing for the home highlights finding a buyer who will preserve the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of design, advocates of design, or organizations seeking to protect an iconic work, there is simply nothing comparable," the listing say. "This goes beyond a purchase; it is a transfer of stewardship – a hunt for the next steward who will respect the house’s legacy, appreciate its design integrity, and ensure its protection for future generations."

The specialist concurred that the selection of purchaser would be a vital one, given the home’s history.

"In my view any time a long-term steward, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a residence like this, it always causes a little bit of a hesitation – because you never know what the next owner, what their plans will be. And do they understand and cherish the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"