🔗 Share this article

The famous Stahl house, a epitome of mid-century modern architectural design, is currently listed for the first time in its whole history.

This cantilevered home, situated in the Hollywood Hills, was listed on the market this recent week. The listing price stands at a notable $25 million.

Stewards Move to Part With

The Stahl family, who have been the proprietors of the property for its entire 65-year history, shared a declaration regarding their decision 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 progressively harder to look after it with the attention and vigor it so richly deserves," commented the offspring of the initial owners.

They added that the period had emerged to find a new "guardian" for the house – "a person who not only recognizes its design legacy but also understands its role in the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and beyond."

Unassuming Origins

The origins of the Stahl house date to May 1954, when the initial owners bought a mountainous patch of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned representation of the city, the residents often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "working-class family living in a white-collar house."

Construction Feat

The first design for the Stahl house was developed during the summer of 1956. However, many builders were originally wary to build it on the challenging hillside.

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

The progressive program "centered around innovation" and "employing new materials and erecting in sites that maybe previously the techniques didn’t really enable," commented an authority from a local conservancy. "Each of these factors are integrated into a site like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and unimaginable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else thought, at the time, was impossible to build."

Finalization and Iconic Impact

The Stahl house was assigned Case Study house No. 22, and work began in May 1959. According to the residents, construction totaled "a mere $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 added.

Soon after construction was finished, a renowned architectural photographer captured what is arguably the most iconic picture of the home. Shot through the enormous glass windows, the photograph depicts two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the long-standing influence of the photo is due to the way it communicates an concept about dwelling in Los Angeles, an ambivalence about being both in the city and separate from it," said a head of an architectural practice and lecturer at a prominent university.

Historic Status

The home has had historic features in movies, broadcast and videos, including several popular 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 added as a conserved building on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next Custodianship

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently fully booked through February. In their announcement concerning the sale, the family stated they would give "ample notice" before ending the tours.

The property description for the home highlights finding a new owner who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of style, supporters of design, or entities seeking to protect an American masterpiece, there is simply nothing comparable," the description state. "This is not merely a sale; it is a handover of custody – a hunt for the next custodian who will celebrate the house’s past, respect its original vision, and ensure its preservation for generations to come."

The specialist affirmed that the choice of buyer would be a critical one, given the home’s legacy.

"I believe any time a long-term steward, and a custodianship like this, is changing ownership of a residence like this, it always causes a little bit of a concern – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their aims will be. And do they grasp and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"