Mumbai based real estate company, Lodha Developers, announced the launch of World One – the tallest residential tower in the World at a cost of Rs. 2000 crore. Located on a large 17 acre site in Upper Worli, Mumbai, this masterpiece will stand close to half a kilometer tall. At over 450 meters when ready, it will comfortably dwarf Q1 in Gold coast, which at 323 meters, is currently the world’s tallest residential tower. True to its global stature, World One will be concurrently premiered across the globe in New York, Tokyo and Mumbai.
 
World One -Over 117 storeys, 1450 feet tall tower at Upper Worli
World One will be located at Lodha Place, a landmark development on a 17 acre site, located in Upper Worli. The mixed-use development will include 3 residential towers, a high-end shopping avenue and a world-class office building. At over 1450 feet tall, the tower will be the tallest residential development in the world and taller than some of the most iconic global landmarks including:  Sears Tower, Chicago (442 metres); Jin Mao Building, Shanghai (421 metres) and Empire State Building, New York (381 metres).
 
One of the landmark features of this iconic development with be an exclusive observatory called ‘1000’ – located at a height of 1000 feet above the city. This open-to-air observatory will allow residents to enjoy fabulous views of the city and the Arabian Sea – it is estimated that a person can see as far away as 60 kms from the building from this height.
 
World One shall be rated as GOLD LEED Certified building by the Green Building Council. It shall be one of the only 100+ storey buildings in the world to have this coveted certification, indicating a high level of environmental care in its construction and operations. The key environmental sustainability features include:
•      100% water recycling and rain water harvesting – reducing water consumption by upto 50% over a conventional building
•      Use of VRV air-conditioning and solar energy for common area lighting and water heating -reducing electricity consumption by up to 40%
•      Waste segregation and recycling.
 
The project is expected to provide its residents with the finest in luxury living. Leading luxury brands from across the globe are expected to be involved in the project:
•      Kitchens– Bulthaup (Germany)
•      Bath fittings – Antonio Lupi (Italy), Dornbracht (Germany), Gessi (Italy), Villeroy & Boch (Germany/France)
•      Elevators – Mitsubishi (Japan), Otis (USA)
•      Flooring-Imported Italian marbles
 
This iconic tower is expected to consume over:
•      250,000 cubic meters of concrete
•      35,000 metric tons of steel rebar
•      40,000 sq m of glass
•      14 million man hours.
•      18 elevators travelling at upto 8 metres/sec (over 25 ft/sec, more than 2½ storeys/ sec).
 
According to Lodha Group, the construction is expected to be carried out by one of the world’s top civil engineering firms – those in the fray include Samsung Constructions (the constructors of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai), L&T (India’s pre-eminent civil engineering firm) and Grocon (Australia’s leading high-rise construction company). Best-in-class technology will be used for the construction of this tower, including high-capacity concrete pumps with ability to pump to heights over 450 metres and high-capacity construction hoists, with a speed of up to 2 m/sec (6.5 feet/sec) to move men and materials.
 
Reflecting a no-compromise approach to safety, World One has been designed to manage the effect of wind and seismic movements. High-strength concrete makes up the tower’s super-structure, which is supported by large reinforced concrete mats and piles. The structure has been designed as a ‘Mega Structure’ to optimize the building design – the very first time that this technology has been used in India. Special measures have been taken to ensure the highest levels of fire safety, including fully automated fire detection and sprinkling systems, dedicated pressurized fire staircases and high-speed fire lifts.
 
The construction is scheduled to be completed by 2014. The total investment is expected to be Rs. 2,000 crores. These residences are expected to be priced at Rs. 7.50 crores onwards.
 
World One -Symbol of India’s and Mumbai’s arrival on the global economic and cultural stage. India is the fastest growing free market economy in the world, and has been one of the most resilient to the recent slowdown. At the forefront of this economic progress is its commercial capital – Mumbai, India’s gateway to the world. World economies have been typically marked by iconic structures. Be it the Empire State Building which symbolized America’s might in the early 1930s, to more recently the Petronas Twin Towers and Shanghai World Financial Center representing the rise of Asia. With World One, Lodha will give Mumbai, its well deserved icon.
 
Abhisheck Lodha, Managing Director, Lodha Group, said, “Every global city is made memorable by its architectural landmarks. Be it the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Opera House in Sydney or the Empire State Building in New York, these vibrant forms reflect the passion and culture of the city they are located in. We have strived hard to ensure that this development not only gains from Mumbai’s energy but also gives back high quality public spaces to the city. In partnership with the globe’s finest architects, designers and engineers, we seek to bring to Mumbai, a landmark which will exemplify the spirit of Mumbai – to always soar higher through hard work and passion. The form of the building is a tribute to Mumbai’s location on the coast and its textile heritage. We have consciously tried to create a building fabric which is global in its appeal but Indian in character and are confident that World One will come to represent India’s quest for excellence in the economic and cultural arenas.”
 
World One -Created by world’s finest architects and structural consultants
Lodha Developers has partnered with some of the world’s foremost names such as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners (founded as I.M. Pei & Partners) and Leslie E. Robertson Associates (LERA) to bring World One to life.
 
Jay Berman, Partner at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners said, “We approach each project by drawing inspiration from the particularities of program and place. Accordingly, we have designed World One as a unique and iconic response to luxury living in Mumbai. We are confident that the building’s height, unique cloverleaf configuration, the unobstructed panoramic views from each residence, and overall luxury and services will make World One unquestionably the country’s most coveted address.”
 
William Faschan, Partner at Leslie E. Robertson Associates said, “World One will not just be an architectural and engineering masterpiece but a symbol of human achievement. At World One, we have focused our expertise to create a mega-structure with a unique structural design system to ensure maximum safety and performance in testing conditions. This project will inspire future generations and change the way construction is perceived in India.”