Kanye West’s latest antics have astounded the real estate world.
The rapper, known for his eccentric fashion sense and controversial remarks, has taken a sledgehammer to a $53 million beachfront mansion in Malibu, designed by the legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
Purchased in September 2021, the stunning home, once a masterpiece of glass and nature, now lies in ruins, its value plummeting by $14 million.
“This is going to be my bomb shelter. This is going to be my Batcave,” Ye reportedly told a laborer during the destruction process, as revealed in an interview with The New Yorker. The mansion, finished in 2013, is now a skeletal shell, stripped of plumbing, electricity and its iconic clouded glass.
Ando’s once-pristine design, praised for blending domestic life with nature, has been gutted, leaving only gaping hollows where bedrooms and galleries once stood.
The blackened exterior, perched on stilts above the golden sands, stands in stark contrast to neighboring homes.
With his wife Bianca Censori and a team of “gonzo” laborers from New Jersey, Ye transformed the mansion into a structure befitting his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”
Censori, who holds degrees in architecture from the University of Melbourne, helped steer the radical overhaul.
Ye’s fascination with architecture isn’t new. He’s met with renowned architects like David Adjaye and Jacques Herzog and even rapped about Tadao Ando, whom he once visited with Kim Kardashian.
But according to architect Kulapat Yantrasast, “To be honest, he did not like the house — he did not like the interior,” he told the outlet.
The transformation included dismantling majestic staircases and replacing them with a foam slide. Laborer Saxon, who worked long hours gutting the home, revealed to the New Yorker, “There was so much rebar in the concrete. It was absolutely brutal.” He described Ye’s vision as “simple fresh and cleeeeeean.”
The once-luxurious property, now devoid of utilities and with a looming bomb shelter, saw its value drop from $53 million to $39 million. Despite bringing in “Selling Sunset” realtor Jason Oppenheim, the mansion remains unsold.
Adding to the drama, Saxon has launched a lawsuit claiming unpaid wages for his grueling work. As the Malibu mansion stands as an eyesore, this drastic transformation has left many stunned. Ando’s original design was a harmonious blend of glass and nature, featuring expansive views, luxurious fittings, and artistic flourishes.
The mansion’s unique charm and aesthetic were meant to bring tranquility and sophistication. Now, the once-envied beachfront property looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.
Reports reveal that Ye and Censori were relentless in their pursuit to remodel the mansion. Saxon, who worked on the demolition, recounted the extreme conditions, often sleeping on-site and surviving on Clif Bars and Red Bulls. “I stink, I haven’t showered for two days,” he told The New Yorker, describing the grueling work.
Saxon was tasked with painting over marble walls and tearing out expensive wooden cabinets, drastically altering the home’s original aesthetic.
The destruction extended to toppling chimneys, smashing marble bathroom walls and dismantling the glass balustrade. The house was stripped of its kitchen, bathrooms, AC, windows, light fixtures, heating, water and power, leaving it a barren shell.
Kanye’s vision for a “Batcave” included imposing ramps replacing stairways and a bomb shelter that stands as the mansion’s standout feature.
This drastic redesign aligns with his history of bold and unconventional choices but has left the property virtually unrecognizable and significantly devalued.
Despite efforts to sell the mansion, including enlisting the help of Jason Oppenheim from “Selling Sunset,” the property remains on the market.
Saxon’s lawsuit over unpaid wages adds another layer of controversy to the saga.