Superstar Drake has topped himself. One of the world’s best-selling artists, the 33-year-old rapper now has an over-the-top mansion to match. The OVO chief’s mega manor just landed the coveted cover feature in Architectural Digest.
The structural wonder is nicknamed “The Embassy,” and it’s located in the upscale Bridle Path area of Toronto. In the making for years, it’s equipped with quite a few jaw-dropping amenities.
Part club, part resort, part rapper’s delight, news of the 50,000-square-foot, super-luxe spread made waves on the web.
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@archdigest @ferrisrafauli
A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Apr 8, 2020 at 4:16am PDT
“Insane. Amazing. Congrats man,” said “Million Dollar Listing” star Ryan Serhant.
But of course, not everyone was a fan. The opulent, oversized abode brought out the haters on Twitter.
Comparisons were drawn to the over-the-top excess often more typical of Vegas than Canada.
“Does he live in a casino,” posted @simoncurtis. Another user picked up on the almost corporate vibe of the photos: “Drake live in a hotel lobby lmao,” @AsteadWesley noted.
Others drew cinematic parallels: “Did he model his home after the spaceship from ‘Passengers’?,” asked @Prasejeebus.
One person found the place too spacious.
“Drake’s mansion is perfect for physically distancing … you could go days without seeing another person in this place!” posted @Chum1045.
Our favorite comment hit a humorous note, as it poked some fun at the home’s velvet-rope-and-bottle-service vibes…
Drake's house look like the type of place that overcharges you for a bottle of Tito's Vodka before they let you in. pic.twitter.com/lKa58xhwIT
— Jian DeLeon (@jiandeleon) April 8, 2020
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While we don’t know if there’s a two-bottle minimum to get in the door, we did learn three key items about Drake’s new digs.
1. It’s designed with timelessness in mind
“Because I was building it in my hometown, I wanted the structure to stand firm for 100 years. I wanted it to have a monumental scale and feel,” Drake told AD.
“It will be one of the things I leave behind, so it had to be timeless and strong,” he added.
Designed by architect and interior designer Ferris Rafauli, the space is constructed of classic (and pricey) materials, such as bronze, marble, limestone, and “exotic woods.” But Rafauli was careful not to veer into gaudy territory and opted for high-end finishes.
“This isn’t stucco, paint, and fake gold,” Rafauli told AD. “That’s not what Drake wanted, and that’s not what I do.”
However, the maximalist interiors are opulent and extravagant.
The architect posted a photo of himself and the homeowner in his new construction, adding, “It’s not often you meet someone that shares the same passion. This one was a win before we got started.”
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“It’s overwhelming high luxury,” says rapper Drake (@champagnepapi) of the Toronto home he has been crafting over the past six years alongside designer @ferrisrafauli. “That message is delivered through the size of the rooms and the materials and details of the floors and the ceilings. I wanted to make sure people can see the work I’ve put in over the years reflected from every vantage point.” Indeed, the scale of the rooms sets the tone for the home experience from the moment one enters the vast entry hall, above, which is clad in solid limestone with beveled inserts of Nero Marquina marble beneath a faceted ceiling of antique mirror framed in bronze, while two sculptures by @kaws flank the doorway. Discover more of the home through the link in our profile. Photo by @jasonschmidtstudio; text by @mayer.rus; styled by @colinking
A post shared by Architectural Digest (@archdigest) on Apr 8, 2020 at 10:16am PDT
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2. Amenities are off the hook
When news first broke that the recording artist planned to build a custom home in his native Toronto, the plans called for a 21,000-square-foot mansion.
That now seems almost quaint. The finished product is over twice that size, and features a NBA regulation-size indoor basketball court with a 21-square-foot pyramidal skylight, a massive great room with 44-feet-high ceilings with bespoke piano, and a chandelier composed of 20,000 pieces of hand-cut Swarovski crystal.
Inside the lavish living quarters, chandeliers hang over the marble staircases. There’s also a recording studio, an awards room to showcase the rapper’s awards, a hall of sports jerseys, and an indoor pool.
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Inside the Toronto home he built from the ground up, rapper Drake (@champagnepapi) likens the world-class recording studio (above) to “eccentric 1970s studios mixed with Annabel’s in London.” A backlit panel of brown agate semi-precious stone softly illuminates the studio lounge which is outfitted with a custom sofa, @erwan_boulloud aluminum cocktail table and vintage Ricardo Fasanello chair. Take a tour of the home through the link in our profile. Photo by @jasonschmidtstudio; text by @mayer.rus; styled by @colinking; interior design by @ferrisrafauli
A post shared by Architectural Digest (@archdigest) on Apr 8, 2020 at 4:55pm PDT
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3. The uber-luxe bedroom is as big as some homes
Measuring in at 3,200 square feet, the master bedroom is a retreat large enough to house an average-sized family. According to AD, it’s Drake’s favorite part of the property. He invested quite a few stacks in the suite’s development.
The bed and bed base weigh around one ton and “cost more than many people’s entire homes,” the article notes.
The headboard features a whiskey and champagne bar on the reverse side. Side tables feature mother-of-pearl inlay. The bath is a tub formed from a 4,000-pound block of black marble. The closet is a two-story temple of fashion.
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Watch: Jason Statham’s $7M L.A. Home Reflects His Passion for Remodeling
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“The bedroom is where I come to decompress from the world at the end of the night, and where I open my eyes to seize the day,” Drake says.
The timing of the home’s splashy debut during global shelter-in-place orders did ruffle a few feathers.
“Fifty thousand square feet is rather a lot of space to lock down in,” HuffPo noted.
And Drizzy’s new “Toosie Slide” video is part house tour and part dance video for the pandemic age. Nice quarantine digs if you can afford them.
The post 3 Crucial Things You Must Know About Drake’s Eye-Watering New Digs appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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