Mukesh Ambani House, Antilia is situated in the most esteemed area of South Mumbai, on Altamount Road, Cumballa Hill. The area has one of the highest property rates in the whole country with each square foot valued at about 80,000 to 1 lakh Rupees. The area is home to the renowned wealthy people of the city. Anitilia was constructed over a span of four years from 2006-2010. The Ambani family moved into their generous adobe in 2011. 

Antilia has a built-up space of over 40,000 square feet. The massive residence has 27 floors that go up to a height of 568 feet. The height and size of the structure make it stand out in the vicinity adding to Mumbai’s skyline. Despite its grand scale, Mukesh Ambani House is built in a way that it can withstand an 8.0 Richter scale earthquake. 

Designed by world-class architects at Chicago-based Perkins & Will, Antilia is an illustrious example of modern architecture backed by a culture-driven design. The interiors of the residence were taken care of by California-based Hirsch Bedner Associates. The construction of the Ambani House was carried out by Australia-based Leighton Contractors, alongside Indian company B. E. Billimoria & Company Ltd. The structural design of Antilia was done by Sterling Engineering. 

Uniqueness is the zest of the Mukesh Ambani House. Every single floor is built to be different from the other. The structure is laced with symbolism from the Hindu culture with lotus and sun motifs being the dominant ones. Taking cues from the ancient scriptures, the house has six sections that represent the elements of nature. These sections that reflect earth, water, fire, air, sound and light are placed hierarchically from top to bottom. 

Mumbai’s real estate is one of the costliest ones around the world. In such a location, houses tend to be tightly packed and every inch of land is precious. Yet, for the Mukesh Ambani House, these constraints seem to be invisible. Antilia houses everything one could possibly need in a residence and defies the meaning of a residence. Right from the basics like parking to the most lavish set of amenities like helipads, Antilia houses it all. Although all these amenities exist on different floors of the main structure, the site planning contains the structure surrounded by marginal spaces on each side. The built form has been oriented in such a way that the functional spaces benefit from the wind direction and sun path. On the floors above, the site even gives views of the Arabian Sea. 

Antilia has 27 storeys, each of which is a double-height floor, and two basement levels. The basic structure seems to have a central core surrounded by open and closed functional spaces on the periphery. Each of Antilia’s floor plates is 47x43m. There are 9 elevators in the building that open on separate floors. 

The overall theme of the architecture is modern with an RCC structure with majorly glass facades and vertical garden landscapes. The upper basement level has a sparkling ballroom. Six floors above that is the multi-level parking that contains the family’s spectacular car collection. A floor above is a mechanical floors, following which is an opulent entertainment floor housing the private theatre. 

A garden floor takes a seat at a height of 45m, this is topped by a service floor and 2 health club floors comprising personal gyms for the members. Beyond this, there are residential floors for guests and for the family members at the top of the built mass at a height of 109m. Sitting as a crown is a helipad that completes this mega-mansion. 

Antilia is made by stacking volumes one on top of the other. The massing of the built form follows a poetic rhythm with open terraces and closed functional spaces, that are often finished in glass to make the mammoth seem lightweight. An interesting tapestry of checkered designs and sculptural columns amps up the facade of the Mukesh Ambani house. 

The Mukesh Ambani house is more than a mere residence. It is beyond layman’s definition of a house. As it has a plethora of amenities and features that one cannot even think of to have in a residence. Starting from the grand ballroom, followed by 6 floored parking with a capacity to accommodate 168 cars. Antilia has a meeting room, a private theatre, and 3 helipads on various floors. Additionally, there are personal gyms for each family member, a swimming pool and a large jacuzzi within the building. There are also separate rooms for individual hobbies like a dance room. And, the most over-the-top amenity of it all is a snow room to help the residents beat the heat. 

Antilia features large terrace gardens on multiple floors that act as recreation zones overlooking the city. The design of the building itself features vertical gardens that act as shading devices keeping the indoors cooler. It seamlessly blends modern architecture with nature making it a testament to future green skyscraper designs. The tallest vertical garden wall of Antilia is irrigated using an automatic fertigation unit that dispenses water and water-soluble fertilisers that help the plants thrive. 

The interiors of the Mukesh Ambani house ooze luxury and extravagance. Every single room, each floor is unique in character, although they follow the basic lotus and sun motif themes. The eclecticism of the interiors brings different design styles together as a rich amalgamation. The living room is contemporary in style with ample natural light filling in the space with drama. The subtle furnishings in the living room feature bold warm accents that render the space to be sophisticated. Crystal chandeliers, exclusive flooring finishes,  bespoke furniture, etc. are seen throughout the interiors. Every floor uses different materials and finishes to stand out and be unique. Some of the rooms are maximalist royal styled while some are a modern statement of minimal luxury. Throughout the house, assorted art pieces by renowned artists take the spotlight making each space a spectacle.  

Antilia, the second most expensive house in the world is a state-of-the-art residence with a diverse array of spectacular amenities. The architecture of the Mukesh Ambani House is a balanced blend of innovation, diversity, luxury and a green approach. 

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