World Skyscraper Day | Mumbai’s skyline chronicles the stories of unique urban habitats!

Known as one of the developing nations of the world, India is home to numerous buildings that seem to touch the sky. Interestingly, 77% of these buildings belong to the City of Dreams and have been serving as major landmarks. It is one of the many reasons which makes Mumbai famous. So to commemorate World Skyscraper Day on September 3, let‘s bring your attention to Mumbai’s skyline, all the way up amidst the clouds.

World Skyscraper Day is celebrated on September 3 annually, as it falls on the birthday of architect Louis H. Sullivan. He is fondly known as The Father of Skyscrapers and is widely believed to have designed the first ones.

India’s 'Financial Capital' ranks 17th in the world and 14th in Asia with approximately 100 structures, towering above 150m. Further, a study by CBRE South Asia reveals that a whopping 89% of tall buildings in India are residential, while just 6% serve as office spaces. 

So, without further ado, let's delve into some of the tallest building in Mumbai, owned by country‘s well known businessmen.

World One is the tallest building in Mumbai and also in India, standing at an admirable height of 280.2 m (919 ft) with 76 floors. The construction of this one was started by Lodha Group in 2011 and was completed at a cost of over US $321 million. Another one that deserves a mention is a residential skyscraper located in Prabhadevi - Wadhwa 25 South A. It stands at a height of 270 m (886 ft) with 65 floors. The tower was designed by Aedas and was completed in 2021. 

Adding to the above, Piramal Aranya Arav, Lokhandwala Minerva, and Palais Royale, are some more Mumbai’s praiseworthy towers featuring luxury spaces, that offer stunning views of the city and the Arabian Sea.

The first thing that comes to mind while talking about the most famous building of Mumbai is definitely the Ambani family’s residential house - Antilia. Thanks to numerous TV shows featuring this landmark, we all have seen this marvel in pictures at least. Why it deserves a mention you ask? Antilia is not the tallest but the 2nd most expensive house in the world (right after Buckingham Palace) with 27 floors, estimated to cost a whopping $2 billion.

Mumbai has been identified as the most expensive city to live in India, in a report by Knight Frank India, a prominent property consultant. In conversation with Knocksense, a local resident Sadaf Raza Zaidi, said “Finding an affordable living apartment in Mumbai is a tedious task. Rent for a basic 2BHK apartment in Andheri West starts from minimum 70 thousand, forget buying one”.  

However, the city’s skyline is constantly evolving, and these towering structures are a testament to Mumbai’s growth and development. Whether you’re looking for luxurious residential apartments or an office space, Mumbai has something for everyone.

So celebrate this unofficial holiday, World Skyscraper Day, by climbing or taking the elevator/lift up a skyscraper, to acknowledge the architectural and engineering feats that make such buildings possible.