No air conditioners in Antilia; story behind Mukesh Ambani’s decision to keep ACs out of his residence

MUMBAI: The luxurious residence Antilia in Mumbai, where Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his family live, often finds its place in the news. Built at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore, this extravagant home has 27 floors. The Ambani family resides on the topmost floor of the building. One notable feature of Antilia is that, despite being equipped with cutting-edge technology, it does not have air conditioners or outdoor units.

Let’s look at why there are no air conditioners in Antilia. The building is designed with a system that naturally regulates indoor temperature. This setup helps preserve the expensive marble, indoor plants, and flowers within the house. Experts say that the air from conventional air conditioning can damage such delicate plants.

Actress and model Shreya Dhanwanthary shared her experience of visiting Antilia during the show The Love Laugh Live. She mentioned that upon entering the house, she felt a pleasant coolness. When she requested the floor manager to lower the cooling, she was told that the temperature inside is regulated specifically for the benefit of the plants and flowers and cannot be altered.

Antilia spans over 400,000 square feet. It was designed and supervised by the American companies Perkins & Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates. Construction began in 2008 and the building was completed in just two years.

The height of Antilia is 173 meters. The name Antilia was inspired by a mythical island said to be located in the Atlantic Ocean, as per ancient legends. More than just a residence, Antilia is a globally recognised architectural marvel. Some of its unique features include three helipads, a multi-storey car parking facility, and three high-speed elevators. It is also designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale.