Art Basel: 4 Elegant Homes Ideal for Art Collectors

If the Art Basel fair were a city in itself, the visitor would need one of those spiral-bound street guides to navigate it.

Consider: From June 15 to 18, the Swiss city of Basel is host to the 53rd edition of the world’s leading contemporary art fair. On offer: Works of the 20th and 21st century from 284 international galleries by more than 4,000 modern and contemporary artists, their paintings, sculptures, photography, cinema, vast installations, and digital art. 

All that, and glimpses of celebrities, the occasional Lamborghini, flares of fashion— high, street, Manolo Blahniks to Birkenstocks—and an unmatched after-party scene in a five-day blitz of art. Now. A minute from now. Make no mistake: This is the friction-free interface of serious money and serious art, where Banksy and Basquiat hold hands with a Jeff Koons balloon animal. 

But where to display that art, without understating or overwhelming it, as might a picture frame around a Mondrian grid? That is the essence of this Luxury Defined collection of architectural masterpieces: Art in which we can live. 

1. Contemporary Aerie at Casa Bella Residences by B+B Italia, Miami, Florida 

Casa Bella Residences by B+B Italia, an ultra-modern, Mediterranean-inspired residential tower just blocks from two Art Basel Miami Beach locations: Wynwood Art District and the Miami Design District.

Each residence has been customized by Italian architect, art director, and designer Piero Lissoni with curated furnishings from the B+B Italia collections. 

Residence #4801 offers 3,799 square feet of airy interior spaces with 23-foot, double-height ceilings and off-white, gallery-style walls scaled for the display of sizable artworks. 

The open-concept great room includes a lounge, dining space, a sleek chef’s kitchen, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows to showcase the views of Biscayne Bay. There’s an expansive terrace for alfresco dining and three bedrooms, each with a marble bathroom. 

Building amenities include a wine vault, movie theater, spa and gym, a pool, gardens, and white-glove concierge and valet service.  

2. Lake-View Villa in La Croix-sur–Lutry, Vaud, Switzerland 

This palatial villa is in the village of La Croix-sur-Lutry, near Lausanne, Switzerland, surrounded by three-quarters of an acre of lawned gardens with panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. 

The home is in immaculate turnkey condition, with a collection of objets d’art and antique furniture sourced globally by the owners. 

The elegant living spaces are graced with parquet floors, high ceilings with crystal chandeliers, textile wall coverings, and gold leaf crown moldings. 

Each of the three floors has a private kitchen and luxurious accommodations. Reminiscent of a five-star hotel, the amenities include a covered pool and spa, a catering kitchen, professional laundry, abundant guest parking, and a separate staff annex. 

Furthering the grandeur are lovely ornamental gardens graced with statuary and fountains, an arbor and an orchard, a stone terrace for alfresco dining, and a wrought-iron gazebo to contemplate the lake and Alpine views. 

3. Liberty Villa in Anghiari, Tuscany, Italy 

Related: Read Our Spotlight with Artist Rico Gatson

Set in the highest part of historic Anghiari, above the medieval town center and with a breathtaking view of the Tiber Valley, Liberty Villa provides 5,272 square feet of living space across four levels. 

The villa’s Liberty-style architecture (the Baroque-influenced Italian variant of Art Nouveau) is preserved in its early 20th century configuration, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, expandable to six bedrooms. 

The property is introduced by a grand, semicircular stone staircase rising to the ground floor’s entrance hall. This in turn leads into the dining room and hallway, flowing to the living room and its balcony, and to the kitchen and a bright study/office space. 

A beautiful wooden staircase rises to three second-level bedrooms (one with terrace), and a bathroom. The upper levels have been used for art display and storage. A winding stone service staircase also connects all the levels. 

The private parkland surrounding the villa is graced with huge shade trees for summer entertaining and relaxation. 

4. Oceanfront Residence in Gansbaai, South Africa 

This spectacular contemporary home has a prime waterfront setting on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast, a wild and beautiful stretch of shoreline between Cape Town and the Southern tip of Africa.  

The open-concept floor plan provides a seamless flow from inside to outside, with three light-filled levels facing Walker Bay—a Whale Sanctuary Marine Protected Area and one of the best places on Earth for land-based whale watching.  

A serene koi pond greets visitors at the entrance. Beyond is a reception room with a spacious outdoor entertainment area and a rim-flow pool overlooking the ocean.  

A spiral staircase rises to a private study/library with another breathtaking sea view. The three bedrooms (all en suite) also have a panoramic vista of the surf.

The kitchen is a dream for the chef and the entertainer, with plenty of prep and storage space and access to a walled garden shaded by trees.  

For the artist or collector, a spacious art studio and gallery space awaits in a peaceful corner of the property. 

Explore more luxury homes with art studios or galleries from our collection.