Mukesh Ambani’s $2 billion private residence, “Antilla,” is progressing and Forbes have released some mock-ups of the interior, courtesy of Hirsch Bedner Associates.

“Antilla,” will eventually consist of 27 stories, the bottom six of which are car parking. 9 elevators are planned, presumably one for each member of the family. Each floor will apparently be different from the others, both in layout and design. The “health level,” will include an ice room, complete with snow flurries where guests can escape the heat of Bombay, along with a private gymnasium for Mr. Ambani. Although, I am reminded of the Observer’s quote about Will Alsop as being “obviously not a man familiar with gyms,” and I certainly hope the plans include some sort of GPS navigation system.

Also included in the design are: a full size ballroom, several lounges, outdoor patios, a four-storey open garden, a movie theater, and numerous other rooms.

According to Forbes:

While visiting New York in 2005, Nita Ambani was in the spa at the Mandarin Oriental New York, overlooking Central Park. The contemporary Asian interiors struck her just so, and prompted her to inquire about the designer.

Nita Ambani was no ordinary tourist. She is married to Mukesh Ambani, head of Mumbai, India-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries, and the fifth richest man in the world. (Lakshmi Mittal, ranked fourth, is an Indian citizen, but a resident of the U.K.)

The Interior:

[Show as slideshow]

Judging from the photographs, second-rate-1990s-New-York hotel just about sums up the design, and just goes to show there’s no accounting for taste

As much as I may make fun of the crappy real estate videos on youtube, there are videos at the other end of the scale that I can only bow down to in amazement.

This one, for instance was shot by Squint/Opera to promote the regeneration of Bradford city center by the realization of World-renowned Architect Will Alsop’s masterplan. The film was commissioned by “Bradford Centre regeneration,” with the intention of appealing to both real estate investors and the general public. It would appear they succeeded beyond their wildest imaginations and all the projects featured are either under construction or being planned. Bradford will soon realize it’s goal of being one of the most expensive cities in the North of England. Beautiful – they say a picture paints a thousand words, but this video paints millions.

Bradford Squared.