The Stahl House / Case Study House 22
Buck and Carlotta Stahl did not set out to live in a modern architecture icon. As a young married couple, they were renting an apartment with a view of the Hollywood hills. In 1954, with the dream of building a home but not really having the money to do it, they ended up buying what many thought to be an unbuildable lot. The deal was made on a handshake from property owner George Beha, from La Jolla, who agreed to carry the $13,500 mortgage.
During the four years it took them to pay off the mortgage, Buck collected discarded concrete material from construction sites around Los Angeles and built up a terrace around the edge of property. He did this in his convertible Cadillac and placed it all by hand. This would essentially extend the buildable area of the site. It has held up for almost 70 years.
Prior to having an architect onboard, Buck built his own model of their dream home. The goal was to take advantage of the view. The plan was a wood structure that included a curved butterfly roof. 
Due to the risky nature of the lot, the Stahls were having a hard time getting a construction loan. It was Broadway Federal, the first black-owned bank in the west, that would be issue the loan when no other bank would. Architect Paul R. Williams served as its vice president and director, along with designing the Broadway Federal building. To add value to the house, the bank insisted the Stahls install a pool and get separate financing for it. The Stahls weren't planning to build a pool at the time but they were able to get a loan and Koenig added it to the plan. I don't have any evidence to support this, but it would be great to find out that Williams was the one who insisted a pool go in soely for design reasons. This all happened when covenants for the area wouldn't even allow black people to live in the area.
John Entenza, through his Arts & Architecture Magazine, also agreed to help finance the construction through his Case Study House program. Construction materials were sold to the project at cost by sponsors. This was in exchange for advertising space in the magazine.
The total cost of the project was $51,000, which is about $575,000 in 2026 dollars.
Koenig took the Stahl's vision and created a design in his signature steel. In addition to a flat roof and no curves, he also tweaked the orientation of the house.
"With an unobstructed view encompassing an angle of 240 degrees from the mountains to the sea, the owners felt it would be illogical to design a conventional walled structure. Case Study House 22 functions as shelter only. All else is subordinate to the focal interest, the surrounding panorama."
Source: Arts & Architecture Magazine
Although the Stahls had one of the most famous modern homes ever, they weren't exactly living that Case Study Merit Specified lifestyle. Buck wanted his eagle's nest for the view. Their choice in furniture did not match what was seen in Shulman's photo. It was a family home where they raised three children; Bruce, Sharon and Mark.
Today, DWR supplies the furniture. They change it out every year. I would really like to see the VKG and AP back in there one day. John, one of the docents at the house, mentioned that the family was contemplating doing a recreation of the Shulman interior on the 60th anniversary of the house and photo shoot. That was in 2020 and, as we know, a lot of things didn't happen that year. I would certainly be willing to help put that together if the opportunity came about. The 70th anniversary is just around the corner in 2030.
Minor changes were made over the years to make it more liveable for the Stahls. Tile and carpet were added. The original floor was bare concrete. More rocks and a log holder were added to the fireplace. They installed the hot tub next to the pool. The family has taken amazing care of the house.
We've seen all the photos, but I really wasn't prepared for the view.
Buck passed in 2005 and Carlotta in 2011. The house is still owned by the family, who put it up for sale late last year. If it was my call, I would have The Getty buy it. They have the Shulman archive and should also have the subject of what he considered one of his masterpieces.
