🔗 Share this article

The famous Stahl house, a quintessential example of modernist design, is up for sale for the very first time in its complete history.

This overhanging residence, nestled in the Hollywood Hills area, hit the listings this recent week. The price tag stands at a notable $25 million.

Owners Choice to Part With

The Stahl family, who have owned the residence for its entire 65-year existence, released a statement regarding their decision to sell. They stated that the house had become increasingly challenging to upkeep.

"This residence has been the core of our lives for a long time, but as we’ve aged, it has become progressively harder to maintain it with the dedication and effort it so truly merits," commented the children of the original owners.

They continued that the time had come to find a new "custodian" for the house – "a person who not only appreciates its architectural significance but also comprehends its place in the cultural fabric of the city and beyond."

Unassuming Beginnings

The origins of the Stahl house go back to May 1954, when the original owners purchased a sloped plot of land in the then undeveloped Hollywood Hills area for $13,500.

Despite the Stahl house growing into a renowned representation of the city, the owners often pointed out that "no celebrities ever lived here," characterizing themselves as a "average family living in a luxury house."

Design Feat

The initial design for the Stahl house was conceived during the summer of 1956. However, many designers were initially wary to build it on the difficult hillside.

In November 1957, the Stahls consulted architect Pierre Koenig, who consented to take on the challenge. With support from the influential Case Study program, spearheaded by a prominent magazine editor, the Stahls received financial aid to hire Koenig.

The progressive program "focused on experimentation" and "employing new materials and building in locations that maybe previously the techniques didn’t really permit," remarked an specialist from a city conservancy. "All those things are combined into a place like the Stahl house, which was cutting-edge, contemporary and inconceivable in terms of how it was erected on that plot that everyone else considered, at the time, was unbuildable."

Finalization and Cultural Influence

The Stahl house became Case Study house No. 22, and building started in May 1959. According to the owners, construction amounted to "a mere $37,500" and the home was finished by May 1960. The result was "a perfect representation of what everyone imagines LA is and should be," the expert commented.

Soon after completion, a famous architectural photographer captured what is perhaps the most iconic picture of the home. Taken through the full-length glass windows, the photograph features two women seated in the home’s living room but looking to hover over the city skyline.

"In my opinion the lasting impact of that photo is due to the way it expresses an notion about dwelling in Los Angeles, an contrast about being both in the city and detached from it," said a founder of an architectural practice and adjunct professor at a leading university.

Historic Status

The home has had memorable cameos in film, television and videos, including several famous titles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, the city declared the Stahl house a protected monument, 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 visits, as it has been for the previous 17 years, although all appointments are currently sold out through February. In their announcement regarding the sale, the family said they would give "plenty of advance notice" before ending the tours.

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

"For enthusiasts of architecture, patrons of design, or institutions seeking to safeguard an iconic work, there is simply no equal," the description state. "This is more than a transaction; it is a passing of responsibility – a quest for the next steward who will respect the house’s legacy, appreciate its original vision, and guarantee its conservation for future generations."

The authority agreed that the choice of new owner would be a critical one, given the home’s history.

"I think any time a long-term steward, and a guardianship like this, is being sold of a residence like this, it always creates a little bit of a hesitation – because you are unsure what the next owner, what their intentions will be. And will they comprehend and value the house, as in this unique case the Stahl family has?"