Singer/songwriter and 15-time-Grammy-winner Alicia Keys has purchased this outstanding beach mansion in La Jolla, California for almost $21 million. The contemporary home was designed by Wallace E. Cunningham and built in 2007. Originally on the market for $45 million, it extends several stories below the original surface so that each roof forms a terrace to the adjacent upper floor.

The centre of the home has been hollowed out, so the house is wrapped around an open courtyard, flowing with daylight and moonlight. With the most memorable panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean, Razor House has been seen in TV commercials for Visa Black Card and Calvin Klein, amongst others.

Covering 10,240 square feet of living space including two master suites, two additional bedrooms, six baths, two steam rooms/showers, gym, roof-top spa and built-in outdoor BBQ, the property also comes with a detached multi-levelled guest house. This is 1,301 square feet in size and has two bedrooms, two baths, each having a separate entry on different levels.

Apart from the dramatic sunsets, the property boasts luxurious interiors including suede-wrapped walls in the primary master suite, travertine stone floors that run from interior to exterior, solid-walnut flooring in the library with a custom Ralph Lauren glass-and-stainless pool table.

The home features a large family kitchen as well as a fully equipped service kitchen, featuring Gaggenau, Miele, Subzero and Hoshizaki appliances to satisfy large-scale entertaining. The impressive garage is located under the house, holds up to four cars and features a swanky glass elevator that operates right up to the rooftop terrace.

If that’s not enough, the property includes a state-of-the-art theatre and a 5,100-cubic-foot-infinity swimming pool overlooking the vast ocean.

Words by Ian Cole / Photography (c) Gary Kasl