Antilia in Mumbai, India is the most expensive private residence in the world, worth over $1,000,000,000! The 27-storey, 400,000 square feet tower is eight miles away from one of the most densely populated slums where an estimated 1.3 million people live for every one square mile
malgoya on April 20th, 2017 at 13:29 UTC »
Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia, is deemed to be the world’s most expensive private residential property, valued at $1 billion. It is the most expensive residence after Buckingham Palace, which is designated as a crown property. It is clearly distinguished in the Mumbai skyline due to its unique design.
The 27-storey, 400,000 square feet tower proudly stands on the most expensive and the poshest locations of the city, the Altamount Road, in South Mumbai. It is designed to stand erect and survive even an 8-Richter scale earthquake. Antilia owes its name to the mythical island in the Atlantic Ocean, a part of the great mysterious city of Atlantis. The humongous tower contains a four-storey garden, 6-level underground parking that can house 168 cars, three helipads on the roof, a ballroom, a theater which seats 50 people, guests suites, a ‘snow room’(use your imagination), a spa, a pool, a yoga spot, gym, dance studio and a temple that the family uses to pray. The family of five, Mukesh Ambani, his wife Neeta Ambani,2 sons and 1 daughter, occupies the top four floors of the building that overlooks the Arabian sea. This house, based on the theme of the “The Sun and the Lotus”, is built following Vastu, using wood, metal, marble, crystals and pearls and materials believed to bring positive energies. A Staff of 600 people work 24/7 to maintain this lavish tower. Each member of the staff is given equal treatment and designated space with facilities to relax and recuperate. The children of Mukesh, though brought up in the luxury of having a massive staff are taught to be responsible and tidy their rooms themselves every day.
A detailed infograph
Album with more pictures
Spuffknuckle on April 20th, 2017 at 14:27 UTC »
1.3 million people per square mile? Does that seem a little off to anyone else? That would be 1.6 square kilometres, which is in turn ~2.6 million square metres. So every person gets 2 square metres each, essentially? I don't see how that's possible, unless the place is similar to the Kowloon Wallled city or something, with a bunch of reasonably tall buildings. Someone correct me if I'm not understanding something please
clipstep on April 20th, 2017 at 15:24 UTC »
My wife works and I are both architects, her firm designed this project (though neither of us were on the project directly).
Lots of times when I see this posted on Reddit or whatever its all about how ridiculous it is, what an obscene waste of money. Actually, this is a sound and pretty clever investment project. The owner got the land dirt cheap bc the window for construction was so small and it was only able to be entitled for a single family residence in that time frame. So the owner built what is blatantly a multifamily frame with very high dead loading as a "personal residence". Afterwards, whenever they want, they will be able to re-entitle the structure as a multi-family and very easily remodel for ~150 midlux units. They building is already ready to go, so when inevitably real estate in that block reaches a given worth this owner is going to make back his investment 5 fold.
TLDR- building looks like the height of crazy rich hubris. Actually, a clever investment that will make him (or his kids) a ton of money.
Not sure anyone will see this but there it is.
Edit: so this comment got pretty high. Just a note, I'm not saying the owner is a good guy or defending the design (which I personally don't care for - way too convoluted IMO.) But its safe to say this is one of the very few "supermansions" that was actually a very smart financial decision, unlike, say, Versailles of Florida, the Biltmore Estate, etc.