update (08.20): kanye west’s plan to build a star wars-inspired community of affordable housing might be a short-lived dream, according to TMZ. rather than being built on tatooine, mr west has constructed four dome-like prototype structures on 300 acres of land he owns in calabasas, california. however the project violates building codes and is being threatened with demolition.

 

since the project began construction in july 2019, several neighbors have supposedly complained to the LA county department of public works. the structures in kayne west’s backyard were originally considered temporary but, as inspectors found the buildings sit on concrete foundations as well as many other reasons, they deemed the project not temporary. the violation means kayne west has been ordered to submit plans and get the correct permits before september 15, or else see the structures torn down.

kanye west designed yeezy 'star wars'-themed housing for the homeless threatened with demolition

buildings in tunisia that were used as a set for tatooine in the first star wars movie that resemble the buildings of kanye west’s development in calabasas, california. image courtesy yovanson/wikimedia commons

 

original article (07.12): kanye west is taking inspiration from star wars to design affordable, prefabricated housing for the homeless. in an extensive cover story with forbes magazine, west offered a peek at structures he explained were, ‘inspired by luke skywalker’s childhood home.

kanye west is designing 'star wars'-themed housing for the homeless

image by bel adone

 

 

west said he was working with a team to design prefabricated structures that sport the same austere aesthetic seen in star wars. the designer has taken cues specifically from the houses designed for the desert planet of tatooine, the home of luke and anakin skywalker in the star wars series.

 

while only a few images of the structures have been released yet, forbes reported that the prototypes are ‘oblong and dozens of feet tall’. west explains that the prefabricated units could be sunk into the ground with a lightwell carved into the top of each home.

kanye west is designing 'star wars'-themed housing for the homeless

image by jamel toppin via forbes

 

 

shot in southern tunisia’s djebel dahar region, tatooine’s set design features earthen houses sunken into the ground. the style is typical in arid areas where its underground approach utilizes earth temperatures to maintain warmth in cold weather and absorb heat in hot weather.

kanye west is designing 'star wars'-themed housing for the homeless

image via @HIPHOPUPDATES

 

kanye west designed yeezy 'star wars'-themed housing for the homeless threatened with demolition

buildings in tunisia that were used as a set for tatooine in the first star wars movie that resemble the buildings of kanye west’s development in calabasas, california. image courtesy yovanson/wikimedia commons

 

kanye west has long been expressing his interest in architecture and furniture design. in 2018 he announced via twitter that he was launching an architecture arm of his yeezy fashion label. at the time he put out a call for architects and industrial designers to join him on the project and ‘make the world better’.