The legendary Stahl House, one of the world's most photographed and recognizable pieces of modern architecture, is being offered for sale for the first time in its 65-year history. Known officially as Case Study House No. 22, the steel and glass masterpiece designed by architect Pierre Koenig became internationally famous after photographer Julius Shulman captured it in a striking 1960 photograph that has since become an icon of mid-century modern design.
The Agency, a luxury real estate firm, has listed the Hollywood Hills property in their 2025 Fall/Winter magazine issue, with the price listed as "available upon request." According to Docomomo, a preservation organization, the asking price may reach $25 million, though this figure has not been officially confirmed. The listing emphasizes that this represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of design history, as the house has remained in the original Stahl family ownership for more than six decades.
The house's dramatic setting was initially seen as a challenge by other architects, but Pierre Koenig viewed the clifftop location as an advantage rather than an obstacle. Buck and Carlotta Stahl, the original owners, purchased the lot for $13,000 in 1954 before commissioning Koenig to design their dream home. The architect's bold vision resulted in a cantilevered structure that seems to float above the dramatic landscape, offering sweeping views of Los Angeles through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The architectural features of the Stahl House exemplify the best of mid-century modern design. The residence includes an expansive swimming pool that takes advantage of the panoramic city views, exactly as captured in Shulman's famous photography. A signature cantilever extends from the flat roof to create a carport, demonstrating the clean lines and functional design principles of the era. The interior showcases an open floor plan with a kitchen housed within a rectangular structure that gives it both division and prominence from the other living spaces.
The home's most striking feature remains its extensive use of floor-to-ceiling glazing that wraps around the kitchen and main living areas, creating a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces. This glazing opens directly onto the patio and swimming pool area, allowing residents to fully experience the dramatic clifftop setting and urban views that made the house famous.
Katie Horak, board president of Docomomo and a Los Angeles resident, expressed both excitement and concern about the historic sale. "Pierre Koenig's Stahl House is one of the most iconic and well-known modern houses in Los Angeles," Horak told reporters. "To be the next steward of a Case Study House that has only had one owner is an opportunity of a lifetime." She emphasized that the house's protection as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument provides some assurance that it will be properly maintained.
The preservation community is particularly hopeful that new owners will continue the Stahl family's tradition of sharing the architectural treasure with the public. "Although this cannot necessarily be expected of a new owner, we are hopeful a new owner will be as generous as the Stahl family in sharing it with others moving forward," Horak added. "A house this iconic should be enjoyed by many, and not just a few." The sale represents not just a real estate transaction, but the transfer of responsibility for one of America's most important examples of modernist residential architecture.
