Stahl House

Stahl House (Case Study House No. 22)
Architect: Pierre Koenig
Location: Los Angeles, California
Year: 1959
Visited: Oct. 2016
Why it matters: A defining image of midcentury modernism—glass, steel, and the LA skyline stretching out below. Possibly the most photographed modern house in the world.
YouTube tour

Why It’s Iconic:
The Stahl House is pure California modernism—elevated (literally and culturally) to iconic status. Floating above the city, with walls of glass that erase any boundary between indoors and outdoors, it delivers the kind of cinematic drama you can’t forget. It’s not just the architecture—it’s the mood. Whether you first saw it in Julius Shulman's famous photo or in a dream sequence on screen, standing there in person hits different. Minimal, radical, unforgettable.

Jeb Score (Judging Every Building)
Design ★★★★★
Preservation ★★★★★
Livability ★★★★★
Influence ★★★★☆
Overall Iconicity ★★★★★