America’s celebrity ‘starchitect’ seeks inspiration in Andalucia

HOLLYWOOD is falling over itself to admire celebrity architect Richard Landry’s latest multi-million dollar project – inspired by southern Spain.

The Los Angeles-based ‘starchitect’, who has designed more than 500 private homes for a Who’s Who of showbiz clients, adopted Andalucia as his muse for a palatial new pad in California.

Canadian-born Landry has designed luxurious homes for a host of America’s rich and famous, including actor Mark Wahlberg and singer Michael Bolton, and the rental home for Michael Jackson where the king of pop died in June 2009.

More recently, client Lorna Alaback flew the architect trans-Atlantic to Spain on an inspiration-seeking trip to add authenticity to her new California mansion.

Now complete, the spectacular home – valued at €8.5 million – is full of Andalusian and Moorish touches crafted in tile, plaster, wood and stone.

The shape of the outdoor swimming pool is modelled on a coat of arms, picked up at a Spanish street fair, while the 18th century wooden doors and gates were bought from a family business in Andalucia and shipped back.

And according to the listing agent, Chad Rogers, the stars can’t stay away.

Actors Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell dropped in for a quick tour, and actress Diane Keaton even waylaid Alaback at her mailbox to request a sneak peak.

Another Landry project – The Brentwood Estate which he designed for American footballer Tom Brady and his Brazilian wife, model Gisele Bundchen – has just sold to American rapper Dr Dre for nearly €30 million (US$40 million).