David Bowie was known for his visionary contribution to rock and his electrifying performances, but a lesser known fact about the Thin White Duke was his stylistic connection with Bali.
The rockstar had a Balinese-inspired vacation home built on the private Caribbean island of Mustique, complete with Javanese and Balinese architectural features (and apparently even touches from the Indonesian island of Sumbawa!).
Dubbed ‘Mandalay,’ Bowie and wife Iman’s former vacation home was featured in the September 1992 issue of Architectural Digest, where Ziggy can even be seen sporting a sarong (pictured at top).
“I wanted something as unlike the Caribbean as possible,” said Bowie in the 80s, explaining the property’s Indonesian touches. “It’s a whim personified. I love a good cliché, and this house, for me, is just the most delightful cliché. What you have to realize is that Mustique is a fantasy island.”
But Bowie was not the only famous owner of the $20 million mansion—he had previously sold the property (with his cat included) to millionaire publisher Felix Dennis (who died last year) for $5 million.
Following Bowie’s heartbreaking death, Mandalay was revisited by the Telegraph, which reported that the home is currently on the market at a guide price of $20 million with Knight Frank Estate Agents, but the real estate agency lists the property as “under offer” on their website, so if you’re a high flyer and want to keep a piece of Bowie’s legacy for yourself, you better swoop in there soon!
Now, as we mourn the death of such a visionary legend, take a moment to enjoy Bowie singing in Bahasa, fierce as ever.
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