We can get carried away when it comes to buying gifts for our special someone. We’re talking about the rare occasions when we just splurge on the things that we think will make the other person happy.
Never mind the hole in the pocket that will be left empty for a while because there’s nothing that can replace the genuine smile we see from the person we will hand our present over.
When it comes to lavish surprises, you can take inspiration from Vladislav Doronin, supermodel Naomi Campbell’s ex-boyfriend.
Billionaire Vladislav Doronin
The name may not sound familiar, but if you’re one of the in-the-know then you’ll know who Doronin is – the founder of Capital Group, chair of OKO Group, and an international real estate developer.
The Russian multi-hyphenate businessman is a billionaire and you would expect nothing less luxurious about him.
When Campbell turned 41 in 2011, she received not 24-karat jewelry, posh bags, nor a car. One of the most in-demand models received no less than an island vacation home from the man.
If you think of it, it was apt that he would give something that he is knowledgeable about.
More so, it would be best to give a gift that would have a deeper meaning, thoughtfulness is a fool-proof way to make someone happy.
The house was nothing like you’ve ever seen – it was shaped like an ancient Egyptian symbol Eye of Horus and was erected in the scenic location called the Cleopatra Island in Gulf of Gokova in Turkey.
Eco House Shaped Like the Eye of Horus
No, Doronin didn’t just randomly ask the architect to make the structure look like a beautiful eye from a top view.
The symbol represents protection and good health, and what better way to send the birthday wishes to Campbell than to incorporate it seamlessly and magnificently into the design.
But there’s more to this home than what meets the eye. There are far more impressive things inside this glass dome house.
From the outside, you can already tell that this house is massive, even big for the two of them.
Whether Doronin was planning on having many kids because of the 25 bedrooms in the home was not clear. Apart from the more than enough rooms, there are also five lounges, which is perfect for big parties and events.
The grand gesture was certainly not amiss with sustainability features – it is an “eco house” that is water, food, and energy self-sufficient. What more could you ask for?
The architect, Spanish Luis de Garrido, said he had to resort to a bioclimatic aesthetic to answer efficiency issues.
Specifically, the black contour of the eye is made up of photovoltaic panels, which, together with the geothermal system, supply the energy needed in the house.
The dome itself is framed with steels and clad with glass, which makes sunlight penetrate through the entire house up to the basement.
The greenhouse feature also allows natural heating but there are measures to make sure that it would be bearable during summer.
Although the specification would tell anyone that the overall home was expensive, a representative of the firm said that this was definitely not a pricey one in comparison with other structures of the same kind.
Doronin quite knows how to make his lady feel special because of his choice of location. Cleopatra Island, which is formally known as Sedir Island, used to be a resort destination in ancient Roman times.
It got the moniker after the legend surrounding the place – the sand is allegedly extraordinary, not quite the same from the nearby shores.
This was because Marc Anthony imported the sand for Cleopatra, who was believed to only set a foot on land that’s Egyptian.
Another House in Moscow
A year after that, Doronin showed his love again for Campbell when he built her a house in his home country.
This Moscow home wasn’t like the one in Turkey, this was more futuristic and others said it looked like a spaceship. Called the Capital Hill, the structure, which was made by architect Zaha Hadid, has glass panels and tall ceilings.
Clearly, the Russian has a penchant for uniquely shaped houses, as a glance at this house would make you feel as if you’re in a “Star Trek” film.
The interior was impressive, to say the least, and complete with the amenities you could think of. Sad to say that a year after, the two parted ways, ending their five-year high-profile relationship.