Orange County Register, April 10, 2017

McClean has come a long way from his Dublin, Ireland home as a boy where he used to draw houses and ask his parents, "what type of person does that?" Fortunately, for luxury home buyers, his parents steered him toward architecture.

As a student, he came to appreciate the modern home designs of L.A. "Growing up in Ireland, I was so intrigued by a home that you could open up to the elements and make the walls go away," he told The Real Deal last year.

His big break came in 2014 when a stunning home he had designed years earlier was purchased by the late Swedish DJ Avicii. From then on, McClean became the in-demand nest designer for the celebrities and financiers who fly high above Hollywood on the Bird Streets.

photo by Brian Thomas Jones

With a client list boasting Beyonce and Jay-z, Calvin Klein, and the Winklevoss twins–McClean took his star-architect status to a whole new level when he teamed up with spec-home developer Nile Niami.

Among the pair's giga-mansion collaborations, is "Opus" a 100-million, 20,000 square foot compound comprised of 12-foot ceilings, Roberto Cavalli floors, disappearing glass walls, a Cristal Champagne room, infinity edge pool, and a sky bridge.

Opus may be the only mansion on the market that includes original Damien Hirst artworks as some of the more "affordable" things in the room.

What makes McClean a great architect is that at the heart of all of his home's opulence and grander there is still a welcoming place inside for people to enjoy life.

Paul McClean characterizes his creations with smooth staircases, towering wine cellars, glass walls, and waterways that build emotions as owners walk past them. "Our houses are all about light. Light and water,” McClean told the Orange County Register in 2017.

Beyonce and Jay-Z's 120-million Bel Air Paradise built into the hillside with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling bulletproof glass walls and pools on every level. It's a white maze of angles that can be seen from space.

photo by Jim Bartsch

Anyone with enough money can build something big and gaudy–what makes Paul McClean stand apart is that he can design a 100,000 square foot mansion that still feels like a comfortable home.

The post How Architect Paul McClean Became The Giga-Mansion Maestro appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The video is set in the Louvre Museum and features the Queen B and Jay-Z posing amongst art masterpieces: Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Mona Lisa and Napoleon’s coronation. The paintings and sculptures that are filmed, often in alluring detail, span over thousands of years, and focus upon, amongst other things, power, beauty and eminence.

Beyond showcasing the artwork, the video also provides a virtual tour of the Louvre, from the glass pyramid in its courtyard, to the ornate and spectacular ceiling panels. And it seems it was no coincidence that this video about venerable living was filmed around the time the power couple was reported to seal a deal and purchase an $88 million mansion in Bel Air and a $26 million estate in East Hampton, New York.

Both of these ultra-modern compounds reportedly purchased by the hip-hop couple are works of art in themselves – iconic, architectural beauties in their own real estate right.

$26 Million East Hampton Mansion

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This mega mansion is the Palace of Versailles in East Hampton. The property includes water access to Georgica Pond and is nearby a 17-acre meadow preserve.

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The monolithic compound itself is a fortress, a Louvre of its own.

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Includes a sculptured stone staircase that leads to more luxury: Luis V and Goyard trunks all in the closet.

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This New York masterpiece has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms and spans 12,000 square feet. It also offers a separate 1800-square-foot guest house that has two bedrooms. It's gotta be special, and it is.

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The features of this real estate showstopper are massive and loosely mirror the awe-inspiring massiveness found in the Louvre. This home itself is classical art that has come to life in a brand new context: the Carter context. Each and every aspect of this mansion is a choreographed step in the timeless dance of two lovers who savor the beauty, bounty and boldness of big living.

The leading couple is slowing down the dance to a different type of speed. American royalty speed.

$88 Million Bel Air Mansion

The Hampton mansion owned by the leading couple isn’t the couple’s only recent real estate purchase. It's been reported that they purchased a 30,000-square-foot estate on the West Coast In Bel Air for $88 million — the most expensive real estate purchase of 2017 in Los Angeles.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

World-renowned architect, Paul McClean, designed this monolithic showpiece for a daily indoor-outdoor living experience.The home’s retractable sheer glass panels reflect modern chic, clean-lined design and a desire to connect to the beauty of the surrounding natural environment.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

The estate has expanses of same-colored travertine marble that serve to create an elegant, luxurious feel without compromising on simplicity. And this is when you know straight away: you've arrived.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

Rooms boast 30-40 foot ceilings and the most luxurious details. And it’s all in the details: from custom kitchen cabinets made in Italy to custom sinks and a custom staircase made from stone. And, perhaps, 24-carat faucets.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

The estate boasts a home theatre with oversized, dark brown leather chairs. And Fate has you sittin' watching Bey and Jay's new video.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

The estate’s state-of-the-art features also include bullet-proof windows, a rooftop helipad for private helicopter landings, a 15-car garage and an in-house spa and fitness center with a 12-person whirlpool.

And the confidence you exude begins and ends at home.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland

The Carter-Knowles’ family may enjoy any one of their four pools. Play it cool at the pool has taken on a whole meaning when the water's so blue as it is here.

Listing photos: Hilton & Hyland/Ultra-Modern Spec-Built Bel Air

It's also been reported that this hip-hop mogul couple's combined net worth makes them a billion-dollar couple: Beyoncé is worth $350 million and Jay-Z is worth $810 million. Knowing this, you can't help but wonder what's next on the real estate horizon for this Fortune 500 family.

Top Image: Courtesy of Berlyn Photography

The post Behind The Scenes Of Beyoncé And Jay-Z’s New Album And Multimillion Dollar Mansions appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

First there was McQueen, then McConaughey. Followed by McDreamy and McSteamy. And now, there's McClean. Paul McClean, architect extraordinaire and founder of McClean Design, world-renowned design firm whose mastery has fostered some of the hottest architecture trends in home design.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” said Leonardo DeVinci, the godfather of artistic genius. And McClean has corroborated this sentiment by showcasing architectural clean-lined contemporary creativity. Each of the three McTrends described herein - calm, cool and crafted - has played a significant role in launching the be-all, end-all of modern luxury design preferences.

Calm: Glass Offers A New Outlook

No smoke and mirrors in any of the McClean modern luxury homes - only retractable sheer glass panels that reflect modern chic, clean-lined design and a desire to connect to the beauty of the surrounding natural environment.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Serene, light-filled contemporary McClean ambiance is created by the interior/exterior glass walls and the outside landscape: stunning reach-through views actually set the tone of the living space by eliminating the division between indoor and outdoor spaces. When home sits amidst beautiful surroundings, maximized walk-through views are a must-have in every room!

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Cool: Monochromatic-Vibe Contemporary

Yes, that's right, monochromatic-vibe contemporary. Said another way, sleek surface sophistication. It's contemporary cool at the cutting edge.

And nothing says contemporary cool like a McClean monochromatic vibe that captures attention and sets off geometric shapes to elongate and enhance the living space. Expanses of same-colored marble serve to create an elegant, luxurious feel without compromising on simplicity.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

McClean has captured what may be considered a truly timeless design trend. Same soft color, same floor surfaces with oversized glazed tiles and luxurious materials that symbolize the pinnacle of smooth sophistication, as one design motif gently transitions to the next. It could be said that this is not a trend exactly, but a monumental design shift: refined, straightforward, streamlined structure and clean lines that ignite together to evoke McClean sophisticated simplicity.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Crafted: Geometric Building Design Patterns

McClean's Real Estate Voyage: To go beyond the boundaries of imagination and to create the most extraordinary spaces where no man has lived before. All it took was one architect named McClean, days of creating blueprints, months of installation, many feet high and centuries spanned. But McClean-time has finally arrived and the overall response is best described as "alright, alright, alright!"

Natural elements inspired by the cool colors of the landscape are celebrated in any McClean urban abode.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Although incorporating geometric patterns is no new trend, geometric-shaped buildings have become - thanks to McClean - a dramatic presence in and of themselves. Natural, irregular shapes of the landscape and city outlines are celebrated in any McClean silhouetted metropolis. And fashion designer/underwearmonger, Calvin Klein, would have to agree.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Calvin Klein purchased a McClean-designed home for $25 million that included a wealth of features designed to impress: fully retractable walls of glass, 13-foot ceilings, a home theater with seating for 12, an entryway that features a bridge over a waterfall and reflecting pool, a 65-foot infinity pool and a garage with space for eight cars. There's more than enough ample space for Calvin Klein to personally slide into his own Risky Business underwear dance scene. With a kind of music - and home - that just soothes the soul.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

To where do these McTrends lead?

To the most elaborate entertainment havens that -by day- serve as Qi Homes to breathe easy and live harmoniously. By night, they serve as sultry, dramatic extravaganzas to elegantly entertain with crisp champagne and chilled caviar.

Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

Top Photo: Courtesy of McClean Design, Paul McClean, Architect

The post It’s All About Design: The Hottest Residential Architecture Trends Of 2018 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Each of the homes named below is a yellow brick on the realty road to Oz. And so, as we follow that yellow brick road, let's peer through the looking glass into those private, glass-walled luxury residences that would undeniably leave Gatsby himself speechless.

Bel Air, California

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

This Bel Air mega mansion would make the Fresh Prince of Bel Air turn crimson from embarrassment (the Fresh Prince's mansion being quite inadequate in comparison to this Bel Air real estate masterpiece). Located in an ultra-exclusive Bel Air enclave, this four-level residence majestically sits as the avalon that it is, enhanced by 270-degree unobstructed views extending from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean with the lit-up Los Angeles skyline stretched in-between. It boasts 38,000 square feet of home plus 17,000 square feet of outdoor decks.

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

There are two master suites, ten oversized VIP guest suites, twenty-one luxury bathrooms, three gourmet kitchens, five bars and an amazing assortment of luxe amenities: massage studio/wellness spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, 85-foot glass tile infinity swimming pool, 40-seat 4K Dolby Atmos Theater, 4 lane bowling alley/lounge, auto gallery with cars worth more than $30M.

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my . .  . there's more! A 7-person full time staff, over 100 curated art installations, an outdoor pop-up theater, two fully-stocked champagne/wine cellars, a massive candy wall, and, last but not least, one of the most advanced home tech systems in the world. Listing price is $250M.

Beverly Hills, California

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

Dubbed The Opus, this masterpiece was designed by world-renowned architect, Paul McClean, and easily retains its legendary status on Billionaire's Row. This outdoor-indoor oasis is over one acre with jaw-dropping views. It is located on Hillcrest Rd - the exquisite street-with-a-view that undoubtedly boasts Beverly Hills 90210 swagger at its very best.

Courtesy of Christie's International Real Estate.

This 21st-century design brought to the real estate forefront by Paul McClean has soaring 12-foot ceilings, automated walls of glass open with a touch of button, the most impressive master suite with dual baths, six additional bedrooms and nine baths, a Cristal Champagne room, massive infinity edge pool, and a sky bridge. Certainly, this modern real estate masterpiece has brought the Land Of Oz to Beverly Hills.

And just when you thought there's no way there can be more, think again! This home of homes has the most Oz-like amenities that include a wellness center with a full beauty salon, hot/cold plunge and massage room, car museum, state-of-the-art screening room, and complete home automation with Savant. Listing price is $77.5M.

Laguna Beach, California

Courtesy of Beach Cities Real Estate.

This stunning oceanfront modern oasis enjoys a coveted location on the pristine sands of Lagunita, a gated community just a short distance from the celebrated Montage Resort.

It's nearly 6,000 square-foot interior is defined by glossy white Terrazzo flooring, dramatic high ceilings that enhance the spaciousness of the interior, and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass (custom-made by Victrosca) that elegantly slide open to bring the outdoors in, making this property an indoor/outdoor nirvana.

Courtesy of Beach Cities Real Estate.

Stroll out onto the home’s exterior grounds covering almost 3,000 square feet and encounter an ocean-view courtyard, a full outdoor kitchen, mosaic infinity pool with a waterfall, lawn and beach gate. Listing price is $16,995,000.

Hollywood Hills West, California

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

Imagine if a path made of yellow bricks -symbolic of luxurious living- were aligned in such a way that led to a hilltop in Hollywood Hills West. Imagine further that the Wizard of Oz joined forces with the Real Estate Gods to build a 10,700-square-foot mansion, as homage to the famed Sunset Strip. The Result? The most modern sexy masterpiece ever constructed, dubbed The Stanley House. It sits perched in the hillside on about a third of an acre above the Sunset Strip with explosive 270 degree city and ocean views.

Lenny Kravitz  (yes, that Lenny Kravitz, the retro rocker) of Kravitz Design contributed to the interior's alluring ambience. Branden Williams, an agent at Hilton & Hyland, affirmed that "[t]he most important aspect [of The Stanley House] was to create a property with soul and vibe. We wanted to create history and that’s why we worked with none other than Lenny Kravitz and his firm, Kravitz Design, to achieve all of this.”

A stairway (think Stairway To Heaven here) connects three levels of living space, which span outdoors via numerous terraces and patios. There are five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, including a multi-room master suite. Features include marble walls and glass-sheathed walls, and a lower-level nightclub.

Courtesy of Hilton & Hyland.

The property's location itself is also celebrated. Rayni Williams, also an agent at Hilton & Hyland, confirmed that “[t]he location is everything and when you’re selling a house this unique off the Sunset Strip in the legendary Hollywood Hills, your job becomes that much easier. We are surrounded by the titans of the industry and with the expansive views found in virtually every room, we have the recipe for another record-breaking sale." Listing price is $38M.

Oz himself would certainly have to agree that there's no place like these Californian glass-walled luxury homes!

Top image courtesy of McClean Design; design by Paul McClean.

 

The post There’s No Place Like Home: Some Of The Most Amazing Glass-Walled Luxury Residences Ever Built appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.