Antilia (building)
Encyclopedia
Antilia is the name of a twenty-seven floor personal home in South Mumbai
belonging to businessman Mukesh Ambani
, the billionaire Chairman of Reliance Industries
. There will be 600 full-time staff to maintain the residence, which was reported in the Indian Media to be the most expensive home in the world.
It has been described as the "Taj Mahal of 21st century India".
The home will house Ambani, wife Nita
, their three children and Ambani's mother.
.
The Antilia building is situated on a 4532 square metre plot at Altamont Road, Cumballa Hill, South Mumbai
, where land prices are upward of US$10,000 per square metre.
In August 2008, Altamont Road was the 10th most expensive street in the world at US$25,000/sq m (US$2,336 per sq foot)
to maximize "positive energy". No two floor plans are alike, and the materials used in each level vary widely.
The home will include: of living space.
based architects, Perkins & Will. The Melbourne
-based construction company Leighton Holdings
began constructing it . The home was also designed to survive an 8-richter scale earthquake.
In 2002, Mukesh purchased the property.
In 2007 the Maharashtra
government said the structure is illegal because the land's owner, the Waqf Board, had no right to sell it. Mukesh then obtained a No Objection Certificate
from the Waqf Board for Rs 1.6 million (U$36,100) and began construction. In June 2011, the Union government asked the Maharashtra government to consider referring the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation
.
In regards to the three helipads, the Indian Navy
said it will not allow the construction of helipads on Mumbai buildings, while the Environment Ministry said the helipads violate local noise laws.
Thomas Johnson, director of marketing at architecture firm Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates that was consulted with by Reliance during building floor plan design, was cited by Forbes Magazine as estimating the cost of the residence at nearly $2 billion.
In June 2008, a Reliance spokesman told the New York Times that it will cost $50–$70 million to build.
Upon completion in 2010, media reports again speculated that, due to increasing land prices in the area, the tower may now be worth as much as US$1 billion.
chairman Ratan Tata
has described Antilia as an example of rich Indians' lack of empathy for the poor. Tata also said: "The person who lives in there should be concerned about what he sees around him and [asking] can he make a difference. If he is not, then it's sad because this country needs people to allocate some of their enormous wealth to finding ways of mitigating the hardship that people have."
Some Indians are proud of the "ostentatious house," while others see it as "shameful in a nation where many children go hungry." Dipankar Gupta, a sociologist at New Delhi
's Jawaharlal Nehru University
, opined that "such wealth can be inconceivable" not only in Mumbai
, "home to some of Asia's worst slums," but also in a nation with 42 percent of the world's underweight children younger than five.
Recently Ratan Tata said that "It's sad Mukesh Ambani lives in such opulence".
South Mumbai
South Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
belonging to businessman Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian business magnate. He is the chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, the largest private sector enterprise in India listed in Fortune 500 magazine. His personal stake in Reliance Industries is 48%...
, the billionaire Chairman of Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian conglomerate company headquartered at Mumbai, India. The company operates through three business segments: petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas, other segment of the company includes textile, retail business, special economic zone development and...
. There will be 600 full-time staff to maintain the residence, which was reported in the Indian Media to be the most expensive home in the world.
It has been described as the "Taj Mahal of 21st century India".
The home will house Ambani, wife Nita
Nita Ambani
Nita Ambani is the Founder-Chairperson of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School.She is also the wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. She is actively involved in various philanthropic activities in the fields of education, human resources and disaster relief.Nita Ambani also is the Co-Owner of...
, their three children and Ambani's mother.
Name and Location
Antilia is named after the mythical island in the Atlantic, AntilliaAntillia
Antillia is a legendary island that was reputed, during the 15th century age of exploration, to lie in the Atlantic Ocean, far to the west of Portugal and Spain...
.
The Antilia building is situated on a 4532 square metre plot at Altamont Road, Cumballa Hill, South Mumbai
South Mumbai
South Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
, where land prices are upward of US$10,000 per square metre.
In August 2008, Altamont Road was the 10th most expensive street in the world at US$25,000/sq m (US$2,336 per sq foot)
Specifications
The structure was designed by U.S. architects using principles of Vaastu ShastraVastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...
to maximize "positive energy". No two floor plans are alike, and the materials used in each level vary widely.
The home will include: of living space.
- parking space for 168 cars.
- a one-floor vehicle maintenance facility.
- nine elevators in the lobby.
- three helipadHelipadHelipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
s and an air traffic controlAir traffic controlAir traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
facility. - health spa, yoga studio, small theatre with a seating capacity for 50 on the eighth floor, multiple swimming pools, three floors of hanging gardens, and a ballroom.
- an ice room infused with man-made snow flurries.
Construction
Antilia was designed by ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
based architects, Perkins & Will. The Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-based construction company Leighton Holdings
Leighton Holdings
Leighton Holdings is Australia's largest project development and contracting group. It is active in the telecommunications, engineering and infrastructure, building and property, mining and resources, and environmental services industries...
began constructing it . The home was also designed to survive an 8-richter scale earthquake.
Controversies
Various construction controversies have been connected to the home.In 2002, Mukesh purchased the property.
In 2007 the Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
government said the structure is illegal because the land's owner, the Waqf Board, had no right to sell it. Mukesh then obtained a No Objection Certificate
No Objection Certificate
No Objection Certificate or popularly abbreviated as NOC is a type of legal certificate issued by any agency, organization, institute or in certain cases, an individual, that does not object to the covenants of the certificate. This certification is a requirement at most of the government-based...
from the Waqf Board for Rs 1.6 million (U$36,100) and began construction. In June 2011, the Union government asked the Maharashtra government to consider referring the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
.
In regards to the three helipads, the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
said it will not allow the construction of helipads on Mumbai buildings, while the Environment Ministry said the helipads violate local noise laws.
Cost and valuation
Indian media frequently reported that Antilia is the world's most expensive home costing US$2 billion.Thomas Johnson, director of marketing at architecture firm Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates that was consulted with by Reliance during building floor plan design, was cited by Forbes Magazine as estimating the cost of the residence at nearly $2 billion.
In June 2008, a Reliance spokesman told the New York Times that it will cost $50–$70 million to build.
Upon completion in 2010, media reports again speculated that, due to increasing land prices in the area, the tower may now be worth as much as US$1 billion.
Public reception
Tata GroupTata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
chairman Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata
Ratan Naval Tata is the present chairman of Tata Sons and therefore, Tata Group. Also, he is one among the few in the world...
has described Antilia as an example of rich Indians' lack of empathy for the poor. Tata also said: "The person who lives in there should be concerned about what he sees around him and [asking] can he make a difference. If he is not, then it's sad because this country needs people to allocate some of their enormous wealth to finding ways of mitigating the hardship that people have."
Some Indians are proud of the "ostentatious house," while others see it as "shameful in a nation where many children go hungry." Dipankar Gupta, a sociologist at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
's Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, opined that "such wealth can be inconceivable" not only in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, "home to some of Asia's worst slums," but also in a nation with 42 percent of the world's underweight children younger than five.
Recently Ratan Tata said that "It's sad Mukesh Ambani lives in such opulence".
External links
- Most Expensive Home in the World has 27 Floors and Slum Views - slideshow by the LA Times
- Antilia is the world’s most expensive house for $1 billion -Luxurylaunches
- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Its-sad-Mukesh-Ambani-lives-in-such-opulence-Ratan-Tata/articleshow/8497118.cms It's sad Mukesh Ambani lives in such opulence: Ratan Tata
- http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/1-billion-home-in-india-empty-because-of-superstition/ $1 Billion Home in India Empty Because of Superstition
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053231/Worlds-expensive-house-Antilia-Mumbai-lies-abandoned.html World's most expensive house lies abandoned... because billionaire owners believe it would be bad luck to move in