Toronto has the honour of being called 'Home' to rapper, producer, entrepreneur, and jack of all trades Aubrey Graham, more commonly known as Drake.

As a Toronto native, the celebrity recently showcased his 50,000 square foot mansion in Architectural Digest - and we were all eager to see it!

In partnership with Ontario-based luxury interior and architectural designer Ferris Rafauli, who creates opulent homes for an elite global clientele, Drake recently completed construction of his new home in the Six, which originally broke ground in 2016. The ultra-luxe mansion - dubbed "The Embassy" - is situated The Bridle Path neighbourhood, also known as "Millionaire's Row."

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Rafauli Design

 

According to Drake, the aesthetics and scale of the palatial property are a reflection of his love for Toronto and his Canadian pride. He said: "Because I was building [my residence] in my hometown, I wanted the structure to stand firm for 100 years. I wanted it to have a monumental scale and feel. It will be one of the things I leave behind, so it had to be timeless and strong...I also think the house says that I will forever remain solid in the place I was born." This sentiment is echoed throughout the extravagant property, from the polished grandeur down to the thoughtful, meticulous details.

 

 

Photograph courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

The style of the decor is inspired by the Beaux-Arts and Art Deco stylistic movement where modesty and minimalism are relinquished for grand staircases, opulent chandeliers, lavish furniture, and, in this case, an Awards Room; the space honours Drake's countless achievements, and tells the narrative of his life - from his acting days on the Canadian Television Show Degrassi, to his many Grammy awards.

Drake describes this Bridle Path beauty as "overwhelming high-luxury", which resounds in all parts of the home, from the 4.4 metre high fences (which is double the legal maximum height of the area, but allowed by the city of Toronto for the artist's protection and privacy) to the the grand entrance hall.

 

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

The massive entry hall has spectacular 44-foot ceilings, decorated with 20,000 hand-cut Swarovski crystals and a bronze solid-marble chandelier that's considered the second-largest lighting structure of its kind in the world.

The interior finishes are predominantly limestone, an array of woods, and Spanish Nero Marquina marble. The chandeliers and various other furniture pieces throughout the home were custom-designed by Rafauli and boast extravagant materials like dyed ostrich skin; every meticulous design choice is yet another thread in the tapestry of luxury that blankets the home.

 

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

To list every impressive furnishing and amenity of Drake's manor would be overwhelming, to say the least, so here are some of my favourite awe-inspiring features of Drake's home.

To start, the room that quite literally made my jaw drop is Drake's NBA-size indoor basketball court that includes his record label and clothing brand logo, "October's Very Own", printed across the court. As a huge Toronto Raptors fan and advocate, not to mention the team's official global Ambassador, it's unsurprising that Drake would build a private court as impressive as this one!

 

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

Drake spared no expense to maximize his comfort, and infuse every fixture and finish with a sense of high luxury. The artist's bed alone is said to weigh one ton and to cost more than a detached house in Toronto. The bedroom is further bedecked with mother-of-pearl inlays and Alexander McQueen Bedding, while the master bath and walk-in closet would make anyone swoon!

 

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

His bathtub weighs 4,000 pounds and was elegantly carved out of a single block of black marble, while his two-story closet is ornamented with high-end materials like amethyst, rock crystal, diamonds, and nickel! That said, it makes sense that Drake would ensure his closet was as fancy as the extravagant high-end wardrobe it was built to hold - including an impressive collection of Hermes Birkin bags!

 

 

Photographs courtesy of Jason Schmidt, Architectural Digest.

 

Watch Drake show off a few rooms in his new pop star palace in the video for mega-hit 'Toosie Slide'!

 

 

When it comes to having Canada's support, whether through the City of Toronto bending property laws to accommodate privacy for Drake's new mansion or in gaining the nation's appreciation as being the leading figure in the "Canadian Invasion" of the pop music scene in the 2010s, Drake is a National Treasure and we're incredibly jealous and impressed by his new multi-million dollar estate!  (And we're also secretly hoping that he opens his doors to visitors at some point in the future so we can be absolutely mesmerized all over again....here's hoping!)

To learn more about and gawk at his impressive portfolio, visit Ferris Rafauli.
 

Interested in reading up on more homes on the Bridle Path? Check out these articles on houseporn.ca:

$23M Bridle Path Mansion Tops Toronto’s Softening Luxury Market

A $35 Million Bridle Path Mansion Is Toronto’s Priciest Property

The Top 5 Priciest Properties For Sale In Toronto This Summer

 

Researched and written by Guhar Ullah, BA Architectural Studies at the University of Toronto's John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.