Source: curbed.com; Julius Shulman/Getty Research Institute

Head for the Hills and Tour Stahl House

by SweisKloss
March 4, 2021

Stahl House (Case Study House #22) is synonymous with iconic Los Angeles homes. The Stahl House photograph taken by legendary Julius Shulman is one of the most published and recognizable architectural photos. The mid-century modern home, beautifully built into and around the topography of the Hollywood Hills, was designed by prestigious California architect Pierre Koenig. But who were Buck and Carlotta Stahl? According to them, nobody famous.

The Stahl couple had been eyeing the lot perched high above Sunset Boulevard for quite some time before they purchased it in 1954 on “a handshake and $13,500.00.” It would be another four years before construction started. Meantime, Buck—a graphic designer and sign painter—leveled the land himself. He and Carlotta went around LA and hauled away free pieces of broken concrete from construction sites in order to build a wall and terrace the landscape. Buck used decomposed granite instead of fresh cement to fill in the gaps between the concrete pieces, quite a sustainable solution. The wall is still standing to this day.

When it came time to design the home, Buck connected with Pierre Koenig, a rising architect whose enthusiasm and innovative thinking aligned with Buck’s architectural plans. The structure was a remarkable feat of engineering with massive spans of glass and cantilevering to ensure an uninterrupted view of Los Angeles. Exposed glass, steel, and concrete were industrial materials not commonly used to build homes during that time. But this functional and economic decision to use these materials ended up shaping the aesthetic aspect of the home.

As construction gained momentum, Koenig was approached by editor and visionary John Entenza of the magazine Arts & Architecture. Entenza wanted Koenig to participate in the Case Study House program, an editorial documentation of postwar living, advances in construction methods, and architectural modernism taking place. The magazine would play an essential role in promoting Koenig’s work, establishing him as one of the most sought after architects of his time.

Enter Julius Shulman to photograph the results of a year-long build. An already internationally known photographer, Shulman negotiated with the magazine editors to push the publishing deadline so he could shoot the home as complete as possible. He saw the importance of this project. From Shulman’s photoshoot came the iconic image of the two women seated in the Stahl House with the city lights illuminating the background. This would be just the beginning of the home being used in films, advertisements, and other photoshoots too numerous to count.

While Buck and Carlotta may not have thought of themselves as being famous, they certainly created a meaningful piece of history. A place they simply called home became a place revered by many who love architecture; Koenig is one of our favorite architects. The home is still owned by the Stahl family, but they make it accessible to the public. Currently, one-hour afternoon tours of the exteriors are offered. For more information, click here.