India’s richest man has moved into world’s biggest private residence

Yahoo! News ^ | Oct ober 14, 2010 | Liz Goodwin

[2ndDivisionVet]

Marking the end of seven years of construction work, India's richest man is planning a housewarming party for his 27-story palatial new home in Mumbai, replete with no fewer than three helipads and an air-traffic control station on its roof.

The 570-foot-tall glass tower, called Antilia, "features a swimming pool, a health club, a salon and a mini-theatre," reports the Times of India. "The first six levels comprise the garage where more than 160 cars can be parked. Atop the parking lot is Antilia's lobby, which has nine elevators." The house also has a garden that can accommodate trees, according to the Telegraph, and a separate ballroom. About 600 staffers will be required to run Antilia, named after the mythical island in the Atlantic.

The house belongs to Mukesh Ambani, who owns much of the oil and retail giant Reliance Industries. He is estimated to be worth about $27 billion. Experts told the Guardian that "there is no other private property of comparable size and prominence in the world." Ambani, the fourth-richest man in the world, co-ran Reliance with his brother before the two had a falling-out and split the company.

Some were surprised at the conspicuous show of wealth, since Ambani is known as a deeply private person not fond of hanging out with India's super-rich. "Perhaps he has been stung by his portrayal in the media as an introvert. Maybe he is making the point that he is a tycoon in his own right," Hamish McDonald, author of the book "Ambani and Sons," speculated in the Guardian...

[Sax]

Awww what?! No cross-town zip line? What a rip.

[Howudoing]

Looks like someone played Jenga and then made a house out of it.

[Justaham]

Yup and that is so sad. Sometimes, I am inclined to believe that George Soros is POTUS.

[Justaham]

Inside the world's most expensive house !

India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is building the world’s first billion (well, 2 billion to be exact) dollar home. They consulted with architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates and planned the world’s largest and expensive home in downtown Mumbai. The home is a 27-story skyscraper and will be more expensive than any hotel or skyscraper because of the custom features. Unlike a hotel or condominium that replicate fixtures and finishes throughout the floors (same window treatments, door handles…), the Ambani’s propose a difficult task for the designers. They require that no two floors be alike in layout or materials. If crystal or metal is being used on the fifth floor, then it cannot be used on any other floor. The idea is to still use a different materials and architectural elements by adding interest, but also make it flow and be consistent throughout

[irishtenor]

I’d rather have Bill Gate’s house.
Last years TAXES were over a million.

[Ramius]

Not the only one. I’m not sure I would want to live there... but it is interesting. Other photos I’ve seen with the different colors it has... make it look better I think.

[aruanan]

Is this building supposed to be the architectural equivalent of a boner?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Seems money does not buy good taste:

Maybe he used the Clinton Library architect.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I was sure late to the party.

[Slyfox]

I have seen it up close and personal. Depending on where you stand, it does indeed look like a bent boner.

Interestingly enough, his liebrary sits right next to a bridge that goes absolutely no where.

[longtermmemmory]

this is what the effete elites call “class”.

it is the cutting edge concept of art and expression of sophistication.

BTW those nine elevators are probably those teeny tiny euro elevators.

[Windflier]

If it was me, I’d rather just orbit the Earth...

I like the way you think.

[Windflier]

this is what the effete elites call “class”. it is the cutting edge concept of art and expression of sophistication.

Uh....yeah. This....thing looks like something built by a bunch of homeless folks, using crates and other crap they scrounged off the streets.

The guy spent enough money to build another Palace of Versailles, but he let his "elite" architects sell him on this monstrosity instead?

Wow. Words fail.

[Salt]

I think your missing the point. Mumbai is a very poor city with a large amount of very, very rich people. All things said, it is easier for a rich American to show off their wealth, then a rich Indian. The building is designed to look ugly.

I know a lot of people don’t really consider India as being eastern but it is, on a very fundamental level. An old Indian saying is—One should not show his diamonds to a greengrocer.

If you observe this building amongst all the other buildings it is located near—you will not see a very big difference. And that’s the point.

I think that’s what confuses westerners the most, everybody keeps saying India is getting wealthier, but unlike china, they don’t see it reflected in the cities or infrastructure.

That’s because its all on the inside. If it was on the outside—a lot of interesting magicians would appear out of nowhere and disappear with everything of value, with the local police appearing not to have seen anything more than an interesting trick.

[Windflier]

The building is designed to look ugly. If you observe this building amongst all the other buildings it is located near—you will not see a very big difference. And that’s the point.

Interesting observations. Makes sense, if what you say about Indian culture is true.

[MinorityRepublican]

I think that’s what confuses westerners the most, everybody keeps saying India is getting wealthier, but unlike china, they don’t see it reflected in the cities or infrastructure.

Makes sense.