Luxury Locations issue 26

FEATURE

Khaled on holiday here with his family went viral. The trip – as part of a Caribbean tour to promote new album Aalam of God – included swimming with stingrays, drinking coconut water fresh from the nut, and teaching fellow Yanks how to correctly pronounce the country’s name (“Antee-gah, not Antee-gwah, y’all”). Mary J Blige has visited on occasion, Justin Bieber once made an impromptu stop at Jolly Harbour restaurant Al Porto, while Mariah Carey, Elton John, Will Smith and Paul McCartney have all been spotted here too. In addition to Armani, other well-heeled homeowners include Oprah Winfrey, ‘Emily in Paris’ star Lucien Laviscount, and Eric Clapton who also established addiction recovery centre Crossroads in Willoughby Bay. Legendary guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who shares a long history with Antigua on account of his passion for sailing, while his wife and fellow acclaimed musician Rachel Fuller Townshend has also been a frequent visitor, and generous supporter of local animal rescue shelter Paaws, for many years. The country has even captivated royalty with Princess Diana famously describing Barbuda as the only place she could find peace, preceding a number of trips by Prince Harry among

others.

For Armani, Flower and Serena were “more than vacation homes”, remarked former Opposition Leader Harold Lovell who was once honoured with being invited to visit and hear firsthand what Antigua meant to him. “He often said that the essence of Antigua

– its natural beauty, calm spirit and effortless charm – aligned perfectly with his own sense of elegance. That is why he chose our island as his retreat,” Lovell recalled last September. Armani’s true legacy is not just in the garments he designed but also the “quiet spaces he created for reflection and renewal”, Lovell said, adding that he was proud Antigua will forever be a part of that story. n by Gemma Handy

Designed in the 1990s by architect Gianni Gamondi, Armani expanded the two properties, connecting them via a central main pavilion. The interiors elicit his pared-back elegance with all-natural materials, unobtrusive furnishings and a palette of muted greys and soft beige.

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