Celebrated architect Tadao Ando may have already counted the likes of Tom Ford and Kim Kardashian among his clientele – but he just became associated with one of the world's most powerful couples.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have reportedly purchased a $200 million concrete mansion designed by the Pritzker prize-winning architect in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu, California. The residence is the most expensive in California history and the second most expensive home sold in the United States – the most expensive being a $238 million Manhattan penthouse. But what can we expect from this record-breaking price tag?
Though its ultra-modern minimalist design divides opinions, it is hard to deny this structure is one of the world's best homes. Commissioned by art collector William Bell in 2003, the distinct concrete residence epitomizes Tadao Ando's signature 'critical regionalism' philosophy – blending modern tradition while paying homage to the geographical and cultural context. For example, in this case, the architect has created floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Pacific.
According to TMZ, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z 'got an unbelievable deal' as the home, which is situated on 'Billionaires' Row', was initially listed for $295 million. Stevie Nicks, Pamela Anderson, Matthew McConaughey, and Betsy Johnson are among the stars who are also said to own property in the neighborhood. Last year, nearby in Malibu, Kanye West also purchased a $57.3 million vacation home, also designed by the Japanese-born architect.
Most recently, Kim Kardashian also enlisted Tadao Ando to create her 'dream' Palm Springs mansion and shared plans of the home from his office in Osaka, Japan. However, while Tadao Ando's designs are exciting celebrities in California, most of his work is far from the west coast.
During his career, he has completed over 300 projects around Japan, Paris, Milan, and Mexico City – plus Nolita condos in New York City. He is the only architect ever to have won the discipline’s four most prestigious prizes: the Pritzker, Carlsberg, Praemium Imperiale, and Kyoto Prizes, which is incredibly impressive for a self-taught architect.
Singer Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z also own a second property in the Los Angeles area: a Bel-Air mansion they purchased for $88 million. The couple reportedly spent millions more upgrading the home to push it over the $100 million mark. It is, however, unclear if they intend to hold onto the similarly contemporary home.
We will await patiently for Beyoncé to return from her Renaissance World Tour when we can hope she shares another look inside the iconic residence. Though in the meantime, we'll occupy ourselves with a reminder of Tadao Ando's designs worldwide, in this classic book, below.
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