Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Billion Dollar Behemoth...Again

Pictured above is the latest rendering of Antilla, which for those of the children who don't already know is billionaire Mukesh Ambani's under construction residence in downtown Mumbai, India. Yes children, when completed that will a single family residence that rises a staggering 27 floors and includes somewhere around 400,000 square feet of interior space including a reported 40-50,000 square feet devoted to the private quarters of the Ambani family.

If you weren't feeling as pukey as Your Mama has been feeling today, you might after learning that the reported and estimated cost of building this 550-foot tall residential behemoth is between one and two billion dollars.

Please excuse Your Mama while we go vomit in consternation and outrage.

Those children that have been with Your Mama a long time will recall that we discussed this "house" back in January. But given that the folks at Forbes recently posted a juicy and jaw dropping article on the place, Your Mama thought all you real estate porn addicts might appreciate this particular perversion of what constitutes a single family residence.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, I could picture myself living there..... yes I could!!

Anonymous said...

gluttonous

Anonymous said...

Not bad, I guess my dogs don't mind downgrading...lol

StPaulSnowman said...

Do any of Mama's children remember playing Jenga? Clearly this architect did.

Anonymous said...

'dailycelebs.tv'

shameful plug! why must idiots use comments sections for free advertising - it's so annoying.

you're just as bad as the person always trying to sell the children property in costa rica!

Anonymous said...

If this is what that guy wants as his home, so be it. It's his money and his life and he can do whatever he wants. More power to him! If I could, I would do the same!

Alessandra said...

I still think it is a cool building, though part of me also agrees that it is gluttonous for one family. However, the concept is one that may be copied in high density cities for mixed use or residential projects.

pch said...

I still love the hanging garden concept. Totally agree with Alessandra about using it in other high-density applications.

Anonymous said...

Oh pshaw! Seriously, I can understand a construction budget going plus / minus 10% (or similarly modest varience). I even appreciate sub-contractors being stiffly penalized if their chunk of a job blows timeline ... but plus / minus a BILLION? That's a lot of budget slop.

Its construction integrity totally rocks, and I luv that the owner tapped state-side for their design talent (Rhaa!!); but geez ... the budget is like a run-away train.

I guess there are orders of magnitude on outlay. Up in these numbers it probably doesn't even matter.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure I'm in the minority here and probably someone is going to call me a communist or some other nonsense. But...

People can spend their billions however they like but isn't there something grotesque about spending 2 billion dollars on a house when there are so many starving and homeless people in India and around the world?

Certainly a billion dollars would go along ways towards human relief, but these schmucks, because they got $43 billion, think THIS is the best way to spend it?

This is just my opinion, but these people should be ashamed of this kind of vulgarity.

That said, I think it's an appealing building design...and would be a lot more appealing if it were to house 50 families rather than 1.

lil' gay boy said...

Let me play devil's advocate and point out the obvious; yes, it is an obscene amount of money & square footage for one family.

That said, it is a stunning architectural achievement, and if this is how the family wishes to spend their money, so be it - one cannot legislate conscience. Also keep in mind that such a public flaunting of conspicuous consumption will likely make this building a target for vandalism, terrorism or worse.

Consider it a design laboratory that can be drawn upon for more reasonable applications such as higher density housing.

so_chic_darling said...

When Mama gave us her first look at this monster back in January I kind of liked the architecture and concept,from the outside it's very futuristic and cool,but having now viewed the architects renderings of the various rooms I have the distinct feeling that somebody is overcharging for alot of what looks to me like Louis quelle que chose hotel furniture in Leona Helmsley beige,the traditional lounge and Crate and Barrel meets fake art deco,the modern lounge.
For two billion dollars I wouldn't want the Bellagio meets Bollywood.Where are the antiques and the fantabulous art,traditional,modern and Indian that this sort of money could buy?
Somebody is charging way too much for a ginko leaf sink and a Chinese crystal chandelier me thinks.
I'm going to pull out my favorite Coco Chanel quote again here children,because it's more appropriate than ever before;
Some people think that luxury is the opposite of poverty,it is not,it is the opposite of vulgarity.

Alessandra said...

Love the Chanel quote, so_chic. Wish more people would adhere to its principles.

Anonymous said...

Everyone actually agrees--tell mama to keep a barf bag handy because this style is jaw dropping, amazing, and more--and all of us children LOVE it. Get over it Mama--were teenagers now--entitled to our own opinions!

How beautiful--and don't get your G-string in a bunch Mama--yes, your bad son in West Hollywood went through your unmentionable drawer last time he was home. And don't jump on me as a deranged weirdo fellow siblings like you all did last time I posted something off kilter--at least I didn't sniff my mama's panties. Anyways, Mama shouldn't have drank so much gin when I was growing up and I wouldn't have to cry out for a spanking on this board.

And, brothers and sisters, neices and nephews, lay off--don't take your "real estate porn" so seriously--you see Mama isn't posting as much these days--she is tired. Mama needs some bad kids now and then to keep her young and virile, I mean Vital.

Blacksheep Son in West Hollywood

lil' gay boy said...

And let us not forget my favorite maxim of Coco's:

"Whenever accessorizing, always remove the last piece put on."

There's a lesson there for this building . . .


"Baa, baa . . . " - Did someone hear something?

;-)

Anonymous said...

Blacksheep we have a space for you at Shady Winds new Elizabeth Taylor meth treatment pavilion,come with me dear we can help you.

Anonymous said...

When Papa Bush gave a state dinner for England's Queen Elizabeth,and George W was a young drug addict he was seated next to her majesty at said dinner.At some point during the festivities he said to the Queen "I'm the black sheep in my family,who's yours?"she replied "none of your damn business".

Anonymous said...

I hope the fucker falls over the balcony rail when he sleep walks!

Anonymous said...

i'm sure from the top floor you can see the largest slum in asia where people are dying in the alleys & 5 year olds are selling their bodies for 50 cents so they can eat.

Anonymous said...

sorry, no balconies at Crawford Ranch!

Anonymous said...

Looks more like an airport control tower than a home.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the laugh Anon 5:09!

Minus the parkade, which I find the most offensive part of the whole thing, I still like it architecturally. What a concept.

I am totally disappointed by the renderings. It's a banquet hall.

Oh dear. We could go on all day about obscene money spending. Two presidential candidates State-side gallop to mind, no?

The caste system in India has ensured, for centuries, the entrenchment of social stratification. It maintains balance, and I use that term loosely, and in no way justify it personally. Nonetheless, it is written in stone, understood by all, and strictly adhered to by all levels of Indian society.

What's our excuse?

Talk about a communist, eh?

Anonymous said...

If this is what that guy wants as his home, so be it. It's his money and his life and he can do whatever he wants. More power to him! If I could, I would do the same!

That is because...good sir...you are a gluttonous pig.

You should change your handle to Mr. Creosote.

Anonymous said...

Before you all condemn this man for gasp! spending his own money, you should know his family is the most charitible in India. They have given billions over the years. The man is worth 43 billion dollars. That would make the building of his home about 5% of his net worth. What percentage of your net worth or wealth was the building or purchase of you home?

Anonymous said...

Work that abacus!

Anonymous said...

Me made poopie my pants

Unknown said...

Two things...

1. Sad to say but the scripture is true..."the poor you have with you always"

and

2. "You can't take it with you..." (not scripture)

Anonymous said...

11.07am

Your argument is shit! Perhaps look at the wealthiest people on the planet & the homes they live in - If they can deal with homes worth mere millions in the most expensive cities on the planet then why can't this dude live in a home worth mere millions in a city like Mumbai. This building is nothing more than a big fuck you to all the people surrounding it who have nothing. And yes, I've been to India several times.

Anonymous said...

& I think you'll find Lakshmi Mittal is Indias richest man [$56bn] & gives the most to charity & manages to live in a $150M home in the most expensive city on the planet, not Mumbai which is dirt cheap.

StPaulSnowman said...

Would that be London?

Anonymous said...

I'm with Your Mama on this one all the way. That is a shit sandwich of a building and I don't care who you are and how much money you made off the backs of penniless and penurious paupers, nobody should be displaying their wealth like that, especially in a country with large third world neighborhoods. Is there a vulgar-er word than vulgar? A fool and his money....

Anonymous said...

Over the top for sure...but that's a billion dollars that went out to contractors,engineers,craftsmen,and laborers.That building will not be able to maintain itself.There will be work for hundreds of people for years to come.

Anonymous said...

What will be even more interesting is when the owner decides to "UPGRADE".
I'm pretty sure the comps won't help his asking price.

Anonymous said...

I predict the project will be abandoned.

Unknown said...

Go India!? LOL I guess he is proud of ONE minor accomplishment - if one could call it that - when you have a country with how many millions are barely eking out a living and are starving? This monstrosity (I wouldn't deign call it a house) is the epitome of gauche ostentatiousness incarnate and brings to mind that old adage: 'Wealth is not always synonymous with taste.'

Anonymous said...

Grow up Alexander.. don't be a cummunist. These guys give employment to lot of people and FYI Mukesh Ambani will operate his office from there.