Top Ten Most Charming Mansions in the World
For thousands of years, wealthy Chinese have always loved to buy houses and land. This millennium-old habit has become a kind of inertia. After the financial crisis, prices in major global mansion markets have significantly dropped over the past two years. Even Dubai, the city of gold, saw a 71% decline this year. How could this not stimulate the enthusiasm of Chinese tycoons to purchase large properties around the world? Perhaps it is precisely this wave of Chinese passion that has led to the prosperity of the global mansion market this year, with stories unfolding continuously. Therefore, we have carefully selected the most charming mansions globally this year for you to admire their elegance.
Guanglan Lake Golf Villa
High-quality luxury Guanglan Lake Golf Villas
The Guanglan Lake Villa is a villa product commonly found in China that can rival world-class luxury homes.
As early as 2005, Guanglan Lake was included in the legally designated permanent ecological control line. This ensures the quality of its national AAAA-level tourist attraction landscape without question. With a 20 square kilometer green landscape resource, it makes other villa projects in the country hard to match up. For 12 consecutive years, it has hosted the Omega Guanglan Lake Golf World Cup, an event filled with gentlemen. The world's top golfer Tiger Woods, golf king Jack Nicklaus, track star Liu Xiang, world piano leader Lang Lang, and heads of state and royal family members from multiple countries have all left their footprints at Guanglan Lake. Whether for living or investment, Guanglan Lake cannot help but catch the attention of Chinese tycoons.
Guangzhou Dayi Mountain Resort
Mysterious luxury Guangzhou Dayi Mountain Resort
Hidden in the foothills of Baiyun Mountain in Guangzhou, with a mysterious developer, mysterious development progress, and even an unclear specific address, it still ranked among the "Top Ten Super Luxury Mansions in China" in 2010.
In the 2010 annual "Top Ten Super Luxury Mansions in China" ranking compiled by the World Manager Group, World Real Estate Research Institute, and other institutions, Guangzhou Dayi Mountain Resort ranked first, surpassing Shanghai Tomson One First Place. However, the developer obtained the land five years ago and has yet to launch sales. Now, the land price has increased about five times compared to before, with land appreciation exceeding 2 billion yuan, and the selling price is no less than 60,000 yuan per square meter annually. After five years, Dayi Mountain Resort has finally been held back as the "First Luxury Mansion in China."
Trump International Hotel Tower
Iconic luxury Trump
The luxurious apartments of the Trump International Hotel Tower were built by Donald Trump and are located on the west side of Central Park in Manhattan. Originally, it was the office building of General Electric Company, and its auction price this year was $33.2 million.
In March this year, Liu Dehao, the second-generation rich overseas Chinese, spent a hefty $33.2 million to buy a 511-square-meter luxury apartment in the Trump International Hotel Tower. Although the original owner, the famous Italian film producer Cechi Gori who produced more than 200 films including "The Postman" and "Life Is Beautiful," had a unique taste and removed all the interior walls, turning the originally five-bedroom, eight-bathroom, spacious living room mansion into a giant "cement box," it seems that Liu Dehao, who is just over twenty and likes to spend extravagantly in New York's hottest nightclubs, doesn't mind. After all, this mansion represents the luxurious lifestyle of Manhattan and also appears sophisticated due to the residence of artists. It is also located in an excellent location with a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Central Park in Manhattan, and this extravagant move has been seen by the American "Wall Street Journal" as a sign that New York real estate prices have finally stabilized.
Leopold Villa
Complicated luxury Leopold Villa
Built by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902, it remains the highest-priced private residence globally to date.
In March 2008, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov intended to purchase the Leopold Villa for 500 million euros, paying a deposit of 39 million euros. However, after the global financial crisis swept across, Prokhorov's fortune plummeted, making him regretful. After all, before the Leopold Villa, the most expensive mansion in the world only cost 57 million pounds. But it wasn't so simple for Prokhorov to unilaterally cancel the purchase contract. According to the agreement, if the buyer unilaterally breaches the contract, the seller does not need to return the deposit. Ultimately, the case went to court, and on March 1st this year, Prokhorov was still ruled ineffective in reclaiming the deposit. It seems that if you want to own this mansion that offers a bird's-eye view of the most beautiful sea views of southern France, along with numerous beautiful swimming pools, comfortable leisure areas, and various elegant sculptures in the garden, you must weigh your capabilities; otherwise, it will be a "tragedy."
Most Expensive Mansion: One Hyde Park
Designed by renowned architect Richard Rogers, the average price per square meter is approximately £64,500, making it one of the most expensive apartments globally.
"Don't buy the best, just buy the most expensive." This classic line from the movie "The Big Shot" is also why the wealthy value One Hyde Park—simply because it is located in the most expensive area of London. That's why Qatar's current first deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Hamad, was willing to pay a staggering £140 million for a duplex apartment covering 1,858 square meters on the top floor. Here, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth, the Natural History Museum of Great Britain, the Thames River... If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Queen on her outings.
Tallest Mansion: Antilia
Four sky gardens, energy-saving functions, and indoor warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Estimated value reaches £1.2 billion.
In October this year, India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, decided to move his family into Antilia, a mansion he spent seven years constructing. This 27-story building resembles dozens of books of varying thicknesses and widths stacked together. Now, after Mukesh's lavish plan was exposed, it even drew concern from Indian Prime Minister Singh, who called on the country's business leaders to "avoid ostentatious consumption" and instead set examples of "moderate consumption." Clearly, Indian tycoons aren't as low-key as their Chinese counterparts.
Artistic Mansion: La Rêve
All furniture and decorations are 18th-century French antique collections.
"If you arrive at twilight and don't turn on the electric lights but light candles instead, it will take you back to 18th-century France!" This is how the American magazine Vanity Fair praised La Rêve. In fact, the creation of La Rêve was the brainchild of media mogul David Susskind. He wanted to recreate the Palace of Versailles in Los Angeles. In October this year, Coldwell Banker Previews International revealed that they plan to sell this "mini Versailles" on the Pacific coast to China's super-rich. Perhaps by next year, La Rêve will become another example of Chinese tycoons purchasing global properties.
Cozy Mansion: Hong Kong The Peak Grand
Hong Kong's most luxurious mid-hillside area, with captivating sea views and mountain scenery. Five-star hotel managers teach workers how to arrange tableware and etiquette. The love nest of Maggie Cheung and Henry Fok.
The beautiful Maggie Cheung finally married into the wealthy Fok family in her late years. To celebrate their marriage, Mr. Fok generously gifted them a super-luxury mansion valued at HK$170 million on Stubbs Road in Mid-Levels as their love nest, and lavishly spent HK$15 million renovating two connected units. Coincidentally, when Maggie Cheung became pregnant, it was also the time the renovation of "The Peak Grand" was completed. Maggie Cheung, now part of high society, can enjoy sweet moments with her husband without any worries.
Eco-friendly Mansion: Japanese Shell Villa
A shell-shaped structure submerged in the forest, with eco-friendly interior decoration fully integrated with nature, promoting a truly low-carbon lifestyle.
Some mansions choose to be built in picturesque places, others include breathtaking gardens, but few can truly blend with nature. The Japanese ARTechnic firm claims they've achieved this, enjoying the gifts of nature without damaging the ecosystem. This year, the company innovatively designed a shell-shaped villa amidst a forest, completely breaking traditional house design structures. This allows greater use of natural light, reducing indoor lighting usage, thus being both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Unique Mansion: Düsseldorf Car Villa
Luxury styles around the world may vary greatly, but most share one common feature: offering a single view. However, a mansion unveiled at the 2010 Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany, completely breaks this convention. This villa has eight wheels, naturally smaller space compared to fixed villas, and no attached garden. Yet, it features a full range of amenities, such as an 11-inch massage bathtub terrace bathroom, wine cellar, mini cinema, and even a garage for sports cars. The price is also relatively reasonable, costing only $840,000.