Mukesh Ambani may only be the fifth richest man in the
world, according to a report on Forbes’ 22nd annual rankings of the World's
Billionaires.
But when his 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai is completed,
Ambani, who heads the India-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries,
would be the proud owner of possibly the most expensive home on the planet,
with estimated costs approaching two billion dollars.
The Ambanis have engaged the talents
of architectural firms Hirsch Bedner Associates and Perkins + Will to realize
their dream home, which has been christened Antilla. So how is the Antilla’s
stratospheric price tag justified?
Firstly, no two floors in the Ambani
residence will look alike – a request by Ambani’s wife Nita. Secondly, the
skyscraper’s shape is based on a fengshui-like Indian tradition to usher in
positive energy.
Forbes reports that the Antilla will
house a six-story carpark, a lobby with nine elevators, a shimmering ballroom
awash in crystal chandeliers and featuring state-of-the-art display and
entertainment systems.
There’s even an
open garden that stretches four stories high for relaxation and evening
strolls. The rooftop atrium offers spectacular bird’s eye view of the bustling
Mumbai beneath, and the beautiful Arabian Sea. Not surprisingly, this is also
the loft where Ambani plans to hold his corporate functions.
Hirsch Bedner Associates
via Forbes