For those with an interest in the lifestyles of the rich and famous, let’s take a look at two of the world’s most luxurious homes…
Antilia: A Mumbai Masterpiece
Looking like something from ‘Blade Runner’, this mammoth tower, situated in one of the most in-demand parts of India shot to fame as the world’s most expensive personal home, being valued at an estimated $1 billion US dollars;
Despite being a tower-block, many of the floors are double-height, meaning that this 27-floor beast is actually roughly equivalent to a more conventional 60-floor flat;
In terms of floor-space, the property boasts a staggering 400,000 sq. ft., which is divided among living spaces, hanging outdoor gardens, a swimming pool, theatre, spa and ballroom;
When it comes to parking his ride, the owner of this property, Mukesh Ambani has plenty of options: the property boasts secure parking for 168 cars, as well as three helipads: plus a garage, so that routine maintenance and repairs can be carried out on vehicles without having to take them to a mechanic.
All of this luxury doesn’t manage itself, however: around 600 people work at Antilia, to clean and maintain this amazing home.
Xanadu 2.0: The Gates’ Residence
Bill Gates; once the world’s richest man; is famous for many things: setting up the world’s largest transparently operated charity with his wife, becoming the youngest self-made billionaire in history and changing the realm of computing forever with the Windows operating system;
However, he is also famous for owning one of the world’s most luxurious and high-tech properties;
Xanadu 2.0 is named after a fictitious estate from the movie Citizen Kane: whilst the 66,000 sq. ft. space is modest compared to Antilia, this property has a number of amazing technical features, as you would expect from a founder of a technologically-advanced company like Microsoft:
- If you are lucky enough to be a guest at Xanadu 2.0, you will be issued a special RF-ID pin, which helps the house to track your movements; when you wear the pin and walk into a room, the lighting, temperature and music will adjust to suit your preferences.
- The dining room is a massive 1000 sq. ft. in size: big enough for the largest banquet.
- A massive 6,300 sq. ft. ‘bat-cave’ like subterranean garage is situated nearby the guesthouse: one can only imagine what kind of motor-vehicles Mr Gates keeps in here, but it is likely that this is where the famous ‘Gates 959’ is stored, away from prying eyes.
- A 3,900 sq. ft. pool-house, which contains a massive pool featuring an underwater music-system, as well as a locker room and bathing area.
- A 2,100 sq. ft. library, featuring special hidden passageways (complete with swivelling book-cases and a secret bar) – Bill Gates houses his $30 million dollar copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester notebook in this area.
- The house also features a large theatre, home-wide computer server, security offices, exercise areas, a green- house and a vast reception hall capable of hosting large-scale events, such as cocktail parties.
Attached Images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1207390
Liam Garrott is an architect who has penned an array of fine conservatories Edinburgh wide.