Skyscrapers have been in existence since the 1880s. However, they were predominantly scattered around the popular cities of the United States. The concept of skyscrapers penetrated the Indian territory in 1959, with the construction of a 12 storied LIC building in Chennai. It held the title of the tallest building in India till 1961. At present, 12 stories connote a cosy duplex; it doesn’t inspire awe. What stupefies the masses is the tallest residential building in India – The Palais Royale Mumbai (not to be confused with Le Palais Royal, Secunderabad).
Palais Royale Mumbai Tallest Building In India
Mumbai is a city known for being the home to a successful Bollywood industry, numerous prestigious art galleries, and gigantic skyscrapers. At a height of 325 m or 1,066 ft (295 m above the ground), the Palais Royale is the tallest residential building in India. While it is still under construction, it has been topped out. The 88-floor building is located in Worli, Mumbai. The construction commenced on 30 May 2008 with an estimated budget of INR 3,000 crores. It was expected to be completed by December 2023, but due to litigation and other factors, the completion date was postponed to 30 December 2024.
Palais Royale Mumbai will house 153 apartments with the floor area oscillating between 740 and 1,300 square meters. Talati Panthaky Associates was hired as the primary architectural firm to build the concrete marvel. Sterling Engineering Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. was selected as the structural engineering firm. The least expensive flat in this residential building is said to cost 40 crores.
Architecture of Palais Royale
The building is made in an octagonal shape adhering to the Vaastu, in addition to making it wind resistant. The frame of the Palais Royale Mumbai is made of reinforced concrete with a low aspect ratio of 1:3. It also incorporates an interior central atrium reaching up to 215 m in height, making it the tallest in the world. Due to the absence of a podium and adjoining structures, the parking space is unlimited. Since the wider space between 88 columns on the lower floor presents the problem of load stress, the 1.5 m wide high-strength concrete foundation girders were set 9 meters deep.
To counter the city’s humid tropical climate, Dupont’s Corian was selected to make the facade. The material is also resistant to acid rain, heat, sunlight, and UV rays. The Palais Royale is constructed in such a way that it becomes easy to evacuate in case of earthquakes. Upon completion, the residents can make full use of an array of amenities inclusive but not limited to a 7-acre landscaped exterior, walking and jogging paths, comfort elevator, concierge services, indoor sport, dining & health club, swimming pool, and biometric safety system.
How Sustainable is the Tallest Building in India?
Presently, we are riddled with global warming and the climate crisis. Hence, it has become quite imperative to let go of traditional building methods in exchange for sustainability. But how sustainable is the Palais Royale? The luxury residential building is indeed a poster child for sustainable practices. Even before its completion, it received a LEED platinum pre-certification rating. The building also boasts numerous green features such as wind turbines, solar panels, organic waste composting, and an on-site sewage treatment plant. The building is expected to harvest 100% of the rainwater, recycling 200 million litres of rainwater per annum. The independent Treated Fresh Air (TFA) units are expected to deodorize and purify the air making the indoor air quality superior to the outside.
Image Courtesy – BrainWing via YouTube
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