In Mumbai, India, work started on the 245m 'Residence Antilla' for mogul Mukesh Ambani midway through 2007. Expecting to be completed by the end of this year, the tycoon's palatial residence boasts some very impressive green ideas - notwithstanding that nearly half the levels are gardens with open space built into its design.

Although the building will be the headquarters for his company Reliance Industries it predominantly serves as Ambani's home. In the most densely populated city in the world (30,000 people per sq. km) who can blame this man from desiring some space and tranquility.

And tranquility will certainly be in abundance. Far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Mumbai, the Ambani family will be able to enjoy open space consisting of fytowalls, waterfalls and massive sky-gardens. In fact, the whole building will be reminiscent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - albeit inaccessible to the public.

One of its claims to fame is this comment from Skyscraper News;

Even more impressively is the outer skin of the building which in part will have a living wall - it's been designed to have entwined plants running up to the top of it on the 40th floor which will make it a unique building and set a new world record for the tallest continuous living thing.

Touted as costing more than US$1 billion dollars, it's a palatial garden centre that has spread heavenward rather than sprawled through urban or rural locales.

Would I have built it if I had the money? Let's say the jury's still out on that one - which is probably why I don't have that kind of money - but it certainly does have some benefits. Plus, it raises and incorporates many of the future thoughts I have discussed here, here and here.