Kim Kardashian Is Working With These Two Japanese Starchitects on a Pair of New Houses

When word of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce surfaced in early 2021, the question on many design lovers’ minds was what would happen to their iconic Axel Vervoordt–designed Hidden Hills home. In October, it was reported by TMZ that the well-documented minimalist estate, which appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest in 2020, would go to Kardashian. Since then, West has been recalibrating his real estate portfolio—the musician spent $57.3 million on a home in Malibu and listed one of his Wyoming ranches for $11 million—but in a recent Vogue cover story, Kardashian has made it clear that her holdings are evolving too.

According to Vogue, designing the Hidden Hills space with West and Vervoordt led the makeup mogul to a “love affair with architecture, specifically Japanese.” The two newest additions to her roster of homes are both being designed by Japanese architects. One is a Palm Springs, California, residence that’s being custom-built by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando, who, coincidentally, also designed West’s recently acquired Malibu property. Kardashian described the Palm Springs work in progress as “concrete, gray-toned, and really zen,” so it seems the design of the space isn’t much of a departure from the ultracalm Hidden Hills property.

Ando tends to favor simple concrete in his constructions, as on his tranquil Santa Fe ranch that once belonged to Tom Ford. His designs also emphasize a thoughtful use of light, something that Kardashian clearly considers important, given the James Turrell installation in the Hidden Hills home. Kardashian’s sister Kourtney recently purchased a property in the nearby desert town of La Quinta, California, where their mother, Kris Jenner, has also owned a place since 2018. So, even though there’s not much information about the new pad, it’s clear the reality star won’t be too far from family.

The Skims founder’s other new addition is even more mysterious (its location is a secret!), but Kardashian chose Kengo Kuma to design the space that she plans to visit every year on the Fourth of July. Kuma is best known for his work on the national stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, LVMH’s Japan headquarters, and numerous gorgeously spare residences. The lakeside location is perfect for the architect, who prioritizes harmony with natural elements in his designs. The space he’s creating for Kardashian is said to be crafted primarily with glass and wood, which comes as no surprise to those familiar with his repertoire. Kardashian’s two architect choices make it clear that she’s not giving up on well-crafted simplicity anytime soon.