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

This suspended dwelling, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, was listed on the real estate market this week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Family Decision to Let Go

The Stahl family, who have held title to the residence for its entire 65-year timeline, released a announcement regarding their choice to sell. They noted that the dwelling had proven too difficult to upkeep.

"This house has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging to look after it with the dedication and energy it so rightfully warrants," wrote the descendants of the original owners.

They added that the period had arrived to find a new "guardian" for the house – "an individual who not only values its design legacy but also grasps its position in the cultural history of the city and further afield."

Unassuming Inception

The beginnings of the Stahl house trace back to May 1954, when the first owners purchased a sloped parcel of land in the previously undeveloped Hollywood Hills district for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house becoming a well-known representation of the city, the residents often pointed out that "nobody famous ever lived here," referring to themselves as a "blue-collar family living in a architectural masterpiece."

Construction Undertaking

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

In November 1957, the family consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who decided to undertake the project. With backing from the prominent Case Study program, led by a leading magazine editor, the owners received support to commission Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on innovation" and "using new resources and constructing in places that maybe previously the engineering didn’t really enable," commented an authority from a city heritage organization. "Each of these factors are combined into a site like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, progressive and unthinkable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else believed, at the time, was not feasible."

Finalization and Famous Impact

The Stahl house was designated Case Study house No. 22, and construction commenced in May 1959. According to the family, construction totaled "just $37,500" and the home was completed by May 1960. The result was "a perfect representation of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the authority noted.

Soon after construction was finished, a famous architectural photographer shot what is arguably the most famous image of the home. Shot through the full-length glass windows, the photo shows two women positioned in the home’s living room but appearing to levitate over the Los Angeles skyline.

"In my opinion the lasting impact of this photograph is due to the way it expresses an concept about living in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both urban and separate from it," stated a head of an architectural firm and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Protected Status

The home has enjoyed notable appearances in movies, TV and music videos, including several popular titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a heritage site, and in 2013, the house was listed as a preserved site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coming Ownership

The home remains open for tours, as it has been for the past 17 years, although all tours are currently sold out through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family stated they would give "plenty of advance notice" before discontinuing the tours.

The sales details for the home highlights finding a purchaser who will maintain the spirit of the space.

"For enthusiasts of design, patrons of building, or entities seeking to preserve an iconic work, there is simply nothing comparable," the details read. "This is not merely a purchase; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will respect the house’s history, respect its original vision, and ensure its conservation for posterity."

The authority concurred that the choice of new owner would be a vital one, given the home’s past.

"I think any time a original family, and a stewardship like this, is being sold of a property like this, it always gives us a little bit of a pause – because you cannot predict what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And can they grasp and appreciate the house, as in this particular case the Stahl family has?"