Design and Architecture
Gigamansions and the new Gilded Age
DnA visits The One, a "gigamansion" under construction in Bel Air with a record- breaking price tag of $500 million. And we'll compare the opulent homes of the first Gilded Age with the sleek glass boxes of what may be a new Gilded Age.
By Frances Anderton • • 28m ListenA rendering of The One, a $500 million Bel Air “gigamansion” being built by luxury real estate developer Nile Niami. Image courtesy Skyline Development Inc.
The Gilded Age of the late 19th century produced vast estates, built by powerful families and inspired by the châteaux and mansions of Europe.
A view of the unfinished The One, taken from outside the property. Photo by Frances Anderton.
A view of Mohamed Hadid’s famously unfinished mansion in Bel Air, taken from the construction site of The One. Photo by Frances Anderton.
Biltmore, the largest private home in America, was built by George Vanderbilt in 1895 outside Asheville, NC and offered the most cutting-edge amenities of its day. Photo by Avishay Artsy.
Chateau des Fleurs, built by William Hefner. Photo by Laura Hull.
