The eccentric American property tycoon Frank McKinney, who describes himself as a ‘maverick devil real estate artist,’ has flown in the face of the credit crunch and constructed the world’s most luxurious ecological mansion – the largest property in the USA to have ever been certified ‘green’ by the local environmental standards committees…
Green houses have certainly come a long way from the little glass building at the end of the garden packed with half dead tomatoes. Eco-friendly is the latest buzz phrase in property construction – well, after credit crunch, that is – and now one man has taken it to the next level.
Frank McKinney’s website has a little write-up about him. He is a self confessed ‘Real Estate artist, super hero meets Robin Hood, five-time international best-selling author, philanthropist, risk taker and visionary who sees opportunities and creates markets where none existed before.’
Wow – quite a lot to live up to there, Frank.
His latest completed project is the £15 million mansion ‘Acqua Liana’ – the name of which is taken from the Tahitian and Fijian words for water flower – and is the world’s largest and most opulent ‘green’ mansion.
This property in America has not only been finished at the height of the credit crunch, but it is also the largest home to be certified as truly ‘green’ by The Green Building Council and the Florida Green Building Council – meaning it is energy self sufficient.
Located on a 1.6 acre beach front plot in Manalapan, Florida, the mansion is all landscaped gardens and sea views. It is 15,000 feet of unashamed luxury with floating sun terraces, waterfall spa and arched aquarium wet bar. (A necessity in any home).
The design of the mansion was reportedly inspired by trips to Bali, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii; hence the indoor/outdoor feel.
On the green side of things; there are enough solar panels to cover a basketball court, which are capable of generating enough energy to power two or three average-size homes.
Acqua Liana also contains enough reclaimed wood to save 10.5 acres of Brazilian rain forest and a water collection system and lighting which reduces electricity consumption by 70 per cent.
Mr McKinney said, “Guests will hear nothing of the doom and gloom of the credit crisis.
“Acqua Liana is a symphony of the senses, created to demonstrate that the American Dream is very much alive,” he added.
Having now developed a taste for all things green, Mr McKinney is planning another green home, the £21 million Crystalina, which will reflect South Pacific influences.
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