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A first look at Kanye’s domed housing for the homeless

Lifestyle
4 years ago
2 minutes

Kanye West, otherwise known as Yeezy or just Ye, is world renown for his music, but less known for his foray into the architecture market. 

It was reported that his affordable Yeezy Home units were to take inspiration from the Star Wars films and may include underground homeless housing.

The first sign of these has now been pictured by tabloid news site TMZ and SWSN in West’s sprawling home in Calabasas Hills, California. 

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credit: TMZ

They show the domes reminiscent of Luke Skywalker’s home on Tatooine in Star Wars, but on a much grander scale. Covered in a wooden lattice, the structures vary in sizes and design — a nod towards the three prototypes promised by the hip-hop artist.

Although the interiors seem some way off completion, the promo pictures, released in 2018, show a minimalist and modern design. 

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credit: Jalil Perazza

West has reportedly had problems during the build on the site he owns with Kim Kardashian. Attention was brought to the development when several of his neighbours complained to the Los Angeles County Department of Works about construction taking place late at night. 

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credit: SWSN

The 42-year-old has also claimed the buildings would be temporary, but the concrete foundations seem to suggest otherwise. 

He has now been asked to apply for a building permit to allow him to legally construct the prototypes, or take down the domes.

Although these designs may never reach Australian shores, (or the American streets) affordable housing is a hot topic, with increasing pressure on the government to produce more. 

Just recently, the New South Wales government has promised 500 affordable homes and 23,000 new replacement social homes in the next 10-12 years.

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Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the Victorian Government is to transform some of the older public housing across the city into vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods. The new homes will look to be energy efficient and better suited to the ongoing needs of Victorians.

Build-to-rent schemes are also on the rise, in the hope that this may be an avenue for affordable living. Diversified property group Mirvac is now set to transform a key site next to the historic Queen Victoria Market into Melbourne’s first build-to-rent complex. While 393 Macauley Road in Kensington have introduced a scheme where people can rent for up to five years before given the option to buy at a fixed price.

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