The city’s first modern public observatory will officially open in Lower Parel, 1,200 feet above the ground. As work begins on World One, the tallest residential building in the continent at 117 storeys, its sister structure, World View, will allow city slickers to stargaze and drink in the best view of Mumbai’s skyline.

“Our inspiration was that all other world-class metros have these sky-high observatories that offer sweeping views of the city. So if Mumbai was to join that club, it too would need a facility like this,” says Abhishek Lodha, managing director of the Lodha group, which is constructing the landmark complex. “We also wanted to offer a facility that would engage the public, apart from just the people who live in the building. There will be a minimum fee to access the observatory, but entry is open to all,” he adds.

While this vantage point on the 99th floor will also feature a café for those who’ve made the trek, the bad news is you’ll have to wait till 2016 for the project to be completed. Though Lodha jokes, “Sometimes in India, four years may stretch to more.”
The concrete magnum opus also marks luxury interior brand Armani Casa’s foray into India, as they are the chosen interior designers for the duplex apartments at the very top of the World One tower, called Sky Mansions. The estimated rate of the mansions is around Rs. 60 crore, with smaller apartments in the same building starting at Rs. 9 crore. “We have  incorporated Indian elements like prayer rooms in the homes, while respecting the tenets of Vaastu Shastra,” says a brand representative.