Naomi Campbell Gave Us A Rare Look Into Her Luxurious Kenyan Estate

One thing that stands out about Campbell’s residence is the soaring makuti roofs. These are thatched with coconut palm leaves that have been allowed to bake in the sun. They’re resilient to the weather, but at the same time they leave the house open, so that it stays beautifully cool.

There’s a special reason that Campbell favors the openness of her home: she doesn’t want it to be air-conditioned. She told Architectural Digest magazine’s videographer the reason, explaining, “I don’t personally sleep in air conditioning.” But why not? Well, beauty is everything to the supermodel. She went on, “I don’t like it. It gives wrinkles, I believe.”

Kenya is not just a place to live for Campbell. On the contrary, she has a deep connection to the country: one which was recognized in 2021 by the tourism ministry. It made her a “Magical Kenya International Tourism Ambassador.” In that role, she promotes the country and helps market it as a destination.

Ministry head Najib Balala said of the appointment, “We welcome the exciting news that Naomi Campbell will advocate for tourism and travel internationally for the Magical Kenya brand.” Still, not everyone was thrilled with the selection of Campbell, who is of course British and has no known connection to Kenya bar her residence.

In fact, some were absolutely furious when the tourism ministry posted a statement to Twitter explaining that Campbell had been given the job. One user claimed that there were celebrities who were Kenyan who could do the job. Names they mentioned included actress Lupita Nyong’o and local models Debra Sanaipei, and Ajuma Nasenyana.

But another user hit back, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s all about who will get the job done. This mentality is what causes nepotism and tribalism in Kenyan institutions, it should be about the most suitable candidate not ‘one of our own’ thing.” After all, Campbell is a big name, and she has a massive social media following.

And Campbell was positive about using her popularity to benefit tourism in Kenya, and the wider continent of Africa. In fact, she planned to be something of an ambassador for all of the area. She told Architectural Digest in April 2021, “I love all of the African continent; there isn’t one country I love more than another.”

Not that Campbell isn’t in love with Kenya; she shared that she’d had many great experiences there. She said, “It’s wonderful to go in July. All the animals are crossing over from Kenya to Tanzania, and you see everything. It’s incredible. It’s like seeing National Geographic come to life right in front of your face.”

Campbell is a trailblazer for black women. She led the way as a supermodel; before her no black model had ever featured on French Vogue’s cover or on Time magazine’s. And it’s not just magazine covers; she’s featured on TV and also on newspaper front pages, not least when she’s had legal problems. The supermodel allure has also seen her front more than one advertising campaign.

And Campbell has not been shy of using her fame for good. She’s worked for the wellbeing of African children, and her Fashion for Relief charity has been a great comfort in several humanitarian disasters, bringing millions of bucks to people stricken by hurricane and flood. On top of that, she’s still found time for love, with her name linked to several big-name stars.

None of those relationships resulted in kids, though, and it may have felt like Campbell would never be a mom. That was until 2021, when at the age of 50, she had a daughter. She made a shock announcement on Instagram, saying, “So honored to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love.”

The supermodel will share several homes with Campbell Jr. Her chief residence is in New York, in the Tribeca district. It’s pretty familiar to most because it was the setting for videos she made during the pandemic. It’s a very comfortable space with a great vista of the Hudson River and Manhattan.

Inside the condo are a staircase with glass banister and a wall that features snaps from across Campbell’s career. There are plenty of moments from which to choose, with the supermodel moving into her fourth decade of gracing catwalks. The dining room is a feature of the residence, with a Gothic-looking table and iron seats. It, too, allows views over the river. Campbell doesn’t often cook, but when she does, she has the space for it, with a spartan but pretty kitchen.

But perhaps more impressive is Campbell’s home in Moscow. Built in 2012, the house was designed by Zaba Hadid, the architect responsible for Guangzhou’s opera house and London’s Aquatics Center, among other buildings. Hadid used Catalan genius Antoni Gaudi as inspiration, so you’ll see curved surfaces everywhere!

It’s an enormous structure, more than 28,000 square feet, featuring two 70-feet-tall towers. The mansion looks a lot like a spaceship come down to Earth. Given its size and scope, it’s not surprising to learn that it took six years to put together. It’s all glass, high ceilings, and the usual amenities that the very rich tend to desire: pool, gym, dance floor, and spa.

The Moscow home was built for Campbell’s ex, Vladislav Doronin, and back in 2011 he gave her a beautiful home on a Turkish island. Not bad! And although they have since split up, she’s thought to still be the owner of the property. It’s on Cleopatra Island, and it was built in the form of an Egyptian symbol, the Eye of Horus.

The island’s “real” name is Sedir Island, and it sits in the Gulf of Gökova. The 25-bedroom — yes, you read that right — home is an eco-house. Its heating is provided by the Sun, which warms its glass walls, while power is provided by a geothermal system. And drinking water simply falls from the sky: yes, it’s rainwater treated by an in-house system.

Another jewel in Campbell’s real-estate portfolio, meanwhile, is her home by the seaside in Malindi, Kenya: it’s far from the rat race. In a video introducing the house, she says, “It’s a very calming place. You don’t really want to be on the phone. You’re not trying to find a television. You just want to read and be with yourself. It’s nice to just have the silence and the crickets.”

Even though the model is not a native of Kenya, she’s very familiar with the country. She first went to Malindi back in the 1990s, and she liked it enough to go back with a buddy. That friend owned a resort that contains several homes. It was a favorite place of Italian socialites, Campbell revealed to Architectural Digest, saying, “All the locals speak Italian. It’s like Little Italy in east Africa.”

From the pool that stretches outside from the supermodel’s living room to the pergolas, curtained in voile, that adorn the yard, the place is made for relaxation. It looks somewhat like a very large version of the local homes, although what’s inside is far from the humble furnishings of the average Kenyan’s residence.

As previously noted, the high roofing is thatched in makuti. Campbell tells us that roofs in this material have been common in east Africa through the ages. They are fastidiously sewn together by hand in multiple layers. She says, “We’ve had this one for at least 12 years, and it’s still in good form. “Because of the air, wind, and sea salt, things can break down very quickly here, but it’s held up so well, and it’s just like a piece of art in itself.”

The roofs aren’t the only African touch, reflecting Campbell’s love of shopping throughout the continent for furnishings. She particularly enjoys Cairo and Marrakech, but her favorite market haunt is Senegal. In the video she says, “Senegal has amazing furniture. Every time I go, I buy furniture, and I just collect it and store it away.”

But when it comes to woodwork, there’s no need for Campbell even to travel. She explains, “A lot of the wood furniture that we have in the house is made in Malindi. In fact, we used to have a workshop at the back of the house.” The craft of the local artisans holds clear appeal for her, but she has art from all over the country of Kenya.

Much of the artwork in the house was made to the design of Armando Tanzini. He’s one of the inhabitants of “Little Italy,” a Malindi local for a long time. Among his contributions to the home are doors carved by hand from wood, which feature dancing men. As well as those, some of his grand maps of Africa adorn various walls.

These are just some of the many things that Campbell shows off in the video in which she displays her home. First impressions are that it’s very airy and spacious: although it may be luxurious, it’s understated and tasteful. A lot of care has obviously gone into making this a welcoming place.

The first thing Campbell does is show us how open the place is. And when you see the living room, it’s amazing how much space there is. The ceilings soar, and you can imagine that on the hot days in Malindi — and of course this being Kenya, there are many — it’s a real haven‎.

It’s the place where Campbell and dinner guests gather before and after eating. There’s plenty of room for a bunch of people on her couches, which are long and luxurious. And they form a square around a coffee table so large that it would take Starbucks workers an age to fill with lattes.

Campbell explains that the coffee table, too, is locally produced. It’s in one piece and looks solid: a fine centerpiece for the room. As you look around it, you can see that the walls feature ornate alcoves and eye-catching artifacts. And looking up, you catch sight of one of the room’s signature pieces.

This is the beautifully wrought chandelier. As Campbell notes, it has a “Moroccan/Egyptian vibe,” with metal that looks like lace enclosing its several separate lanterns. These latika lanterns match the design of the ornaments adorning the walls, although Campbell explains that she bought the chandelier in 2000. Having had a good look at it, the camera tracks down, and wow…

…there, at Campbell’s feet, is a pool. It’s not really big enough for swimming: it’s more akin to the bath from Cleopatra. But it would be great on a hot day! As the supermodel explains, it’s the coldest of her pools, just right for times when the sun gets too much. It lies inside-outside the open living room.

Walking out past the pool brings us into the outside. The supermodel shows us the outdoors and points out how desirable it is for most people to spend time outside: here, it’s a very green and attractive environment. And if guests should tire of the luxury of the house, there’s a beach nearby that allows them to take a dip in the Indian Ocean.

Campbell takes us back inside, to take a look at a formerly private room. It’s a lush bedroom, and she shows us the wooden beams that give it charm. She describes it as “chill,” perhaps an outcome of the air conditioning, which the room does have, despite the supermodel’s preference not to use it.

Tasteful decoration

Looking into a drawing room, the supermodel explains that the home offers the best of both worlds. It’s modern, yet authentic. The room is tastefully decorated, with an African head and a map of the continent reminding you where you are. Walls and floor are neutrally colored, so that the art really pops.

Next we head upstairs. It’s what Campbell describes as a “chill area.” You can see yourself relaxing on the twin loungers, accompanied by others “doing their own thing” in the additional seating. All of you would be comfortable under the high roof of the villa. The supermodel tells us that this is the place she would come to for reading.

Upstairs also includes a gaming area, with a chess set sat atop a green baize card table. It’s a fine place for a few hands of whist, and while playing, you could look at the arty touches, such as hanging lanterns, carved statuettes, and antique furniture. The whole of the upper floor is in comforting earthy colors.

Across from the gaming area is an open space where Campbell could do yoga while looking out over her estate. From the opening, there’s a stunning view of the outdoor pool, with a pergola beside it and shaded loungers. The shades are necessary because, as Campbell notes, it’s sunny here!

Back downstairs, the supermodel shows us a breakfast area, open so that it can catch any breeze. Next to it is a buffet zone. There’s a huge table that when needed is used as a communal serving table. While eating, guests can enjoy another of Tanzini’s maps of Africa.

Of course, there are plenty more mod cons for Campbell’s guests to enjoy. We’ve mentioned that there’s loads of space to relax, but there’s also a spa that includes a bath for hydrotherapy. And if you want to keep in shape, there’s a gym and pools big enough to swim in — as well as the sea, of course!

It’s evident from the video that Campbell loves Kenya. She says, “I hope that you will all now look at Kenya with different eyes and come here and enjoy the gorgeous nature that it gives. The African continent is where it’s at. Watch. Been saying it for a long time, but you’ll see.”