Construction has begun on what will be the worlds most expensive home. The house -- more like a tower, really -- is estimated to cost $1 billion, and its future resident, Mukesh Ambani, is India's richest man. The glass house -- named Antilia after a mythical island -- was designed by Chicago architecture firm Perkins & Will.
I know it makes for a long entry but if you're going to share anything about the place you just have to share it all.
27 FLOORS
According to the plan, the house will rise to a height of 173.12 meters, equivalent to that of a regular 60-storeyed residential building. However, Antilia will have only 27 storeys in all, which means each floor will have a ceiling considerably higher than the current average of nearly three meters.
Six floors for parking
The first six floors -- which have come up -- will be reserved for parking alone, and that too for cars belonging only to Mukesh's family. Space for a total of 168 'imported' cars has been earmarked here.
Floor for car maintenance
Sources said the Ambanis would prefer to have all their cars serviced and maintained at an in-house service centre. This centre will be set up on the seventh floor.
Entertainment floor
The eighth floor will have an entertainment centre comprising a mini-theatre with a seating capacity of 50.
Balconies with gardens
The rooftop of the mini-theatre will serve as a garden, and immediately above that, three more balconies with terrace gardens will be independent floors.
The 'health' floors
While the ninth floor will a 'refuge' floor -- meant to be used for rescue in emergencies -- two floors above that will be set aside for 'health.' One of these will have facilities for athletics and a swimming pool, while the other will have a health club complete with the latest gym equipment.
For guests
There will be a two-storeyed glass-fronted apartment for the Ambani family's guests above the health floors. One more refuge floor and one floor for mechanical works will be built on top of these apartments.
Family
The four floors at the top, that will provide a view of the Arabian Sea and a superb view of the city's skyline, will be for Mukesh, his wife Neeta, their three children and Mukesh's mother Kokilaben.
Air space floor
According to the plan, two floors above the family's residence will be set aside as maintenance areas, and on top of that will be an "air space floor," which will act as a control room for helicopters landing on the helipad above.
Helipad
The plan states that three helipads are to be built on the terrace.
However, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials told this paper that permission for the helipads has not been granted yet.
"The residential plans were approved three-four years ago. Two levels of basement have also been shown in the proposed project," Sudhir Shinde, deputy engineer at the BMC's building proposals department said.
Staff
Nearly 600 staffers are expected to work full-time in the building, sources said.
Total stats
According to BMC records, the total area of Mukesh's Altamount Road plot is 4,532.39 square meters. The proposed built-up area is 4,778.09 square meters (only for residential purposes), and the permissible built-up area 4,939.81 square meters.


Comments (3)
What would be the carbon fo... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Falze | January 31, 2008 4:53 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
What would be the carbon footprint on a house this size? Oh, that's right, India's exempt...
1. Posted by Falze | January 31, 2008 4:53 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 31, 2008 16:53
2. Posted by Mrsoakley | February 1, 2008 10:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
CNN ran this story in less detail after a story about people in Haiti baking and selling mud cookies, yes, you guessed it, cookies baked out of mud that's been mixed with a little shortening and salt. See, folks are living on it because rice costs 50 cents, and no one can afford it.
Hell won't be hot enough for Ambani and all like him.
2. Posted by Mrsoakley | February 1, 2008 10:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 1, 2008 22:56
3. Posted by Stevie the K | February 2, 2008 8:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"It's good to be the king"
3. Posted by Stevie the K | February 2, 2008 8:31 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2008 08:31