Tall Building: Antilla

It's only 22 stories tall, which might make you question its inclusion in the Tall Building series.  Now, that's not a 2,000 foot structure like the Chicago Spire, but it's still 550 feet (165 meters), where most buildings will squeeze in 38 to 45 floors.  In fact, it's the exact height of the United Nation's Secretariat Tower in NYC on the Hudson River, that has 39 floors.  That means Antilla's average floor height is 25 feet (7.5 meters).  That's some high ceilings.

Again, this building is 22 stories and $2 billion.  BILLION.  To put that in perspective, Bill Gate's house, considered an extravagant expenditure, only cost a couple hundred million.  So, what's Ambani getting for 10 times that in a part of the world where labor and materials are that much cheaper?  What's filling Antilla's 400,000 square feet (37,000 square meters)?

Let's start with the 6-floor garage with complete service center to manage the family's ~170 imported cars.  It will be spotted with hanging hydroponic gardens on its exterior which not only makes us dream of Babylon's hanging gardens (why stop with spotted gardens, Ambani?  Bring us back Babylon's!), but absorb some of that Indian heat and sun to cool the building.

There's a ballroom (obviously) where 80% of the ceiling is covered in crystal chandeliers.  It has retractable showcases for art with the obligatory LCD monitors and speakers.  The room's got a stage for entertainment and flows right into an indoor/outdoor bar, ladies and mens' rooms, even an "entourage" room where security can chill.

The building also has 9 elevators, 3 helicopter pads, a 50-person theater, a 3-story garden with balconies, swimming pool, gym, a 2-story glass-enclosed visitors' quarters as well as countless (I think, literally, countless) lounges.  This is an example of one of those.

You'll notice it's a curious design by architects Perkins and Will.  It's carefully planned, though, under the rules of Vaastu, which is a design discipline like Feng Shui.  In fact, in one of the most insane characteristics, no two floors will be alike, in either layout or materials used.  So, if a type of wood is used on 8th floor, it won't be used on the 22nd floor.  Or if a chandelier is used in the garage, it won't be used in a bathroom.  At the same time, though, the Ms. Ambani wants there to be a consistency in design between all floors, but using different materials.  My head's spinning.

It's a bit odd this opulent tower is going up in one of the largest, most poor cities in the world.  I guess Ambani will show his concern by hiring a staff of 600 to take care of his family's residence.  Yes... 600 servants.  Do I have to step back now and remind you this is a residence?  Holy.  Moly.

One last shot of this craziness.

Photos are from Forbes.com