PARIS - THE Los Angeles mansion where Michael Jackson lived before his death will become a public memorial site, French fashion mogul Christian Audigier announced, saying he would purchase the building.

The vast house in the Holmby Hills neighbourhood currently belongs to Audigier's associate and the boss of his fashion company Hubert Guez.

A statement given to AFP by Audigier's press spokesman said the property had been rented by the pop icon for several months and the lease would run out in six months' time, after which Audigier would buy it 'with the aim of keeping intact the precious moments he shared with Michael Jackson.'

Spokesman Laurent Guyot said: 'Christian Audigier, a friend of Michael Jackson, will buy this property to make it a place dedicated to the memory of the star to which the public and fans will have access.'

Jackson, who rented the mansion for US$100,000 (S$145,000) a month, used Audigier to design clothing and collectors' items that were to be sold at his concerts.

The 50-year-old singer died from an apparent cardiac arrest on June 25. -- AFP