Friday 1 July 2016

Xanadu 2.0, Seattle, Washington


Originally named after the film Citizen Kane and adding a 2.0 as an easy reference to the technological world.  It shouldn't be too surprising that one of the wealthiest people in the world also has an insanely extravagant home.  No word on how big the trampoline itself is, but we can imagine it would be a fun alternative to your standard exercise routine.

The house, a modern-yet-rustic high-tech complex, is built into the side of a hill and looks out over Lake Washington. Mortal comforts include an electronic pin worn by resident and visitor which triggers the personal preferences, like the temperature and lighting of a room or even the art that will appear on high-definition monitors throughout the property. Now that is personalisation!


Known world-over for its world-class design and state-of-the-art technology, Xanadu boasts of heated floors and driveways, an underwater music system in the swimming pool, private library with an Oculus and a gym that is so big, it resembles a tiny palace. Now here’s the part where it really gets interesting. If you’re invited as a guest to Xanadu, you’ll be asked to wear a pin that allows you to adjust the room’s temperature, lighting and even music that you’d prefer. Talk about playing the ever-gracious host! But that’s not even the best part. The best part is that the house is an earth-sheltered house, built to maintain temperatures. It doesn’t stand out because of its main façade or its surface dimension, it stands out because of its technological capabilities.


Bill Gates, who is worth $67 billion is the owner of this incredibly high-tech house. It is worth $120.5 million, according to 2012 tax assessments. It boasts a pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500- square foot gym and a library with domed reading room, among many other rooms bursting with technology.  The 2,300-square-foot hall could seat up to 150 people for a dinner party, or 200 people standing up at a cocktail event. A six-foot-wide limestone fireplace dominates one wall, while another wall has a 22-foot-wide video screen. The 60-foot pool is located in its own separate, 3,900-square-foot building. People in the pool could swim underneath a glass wall to come up to a terrace area on the outside.

The property is built into the side of a hill that overlooks Lake Washington. It is eco-friendly by using its surroundings to insulate the property and save energy. Bill Gates has included some extravagant features to the property making it one of a kind, including an indoor trampoline with a 20ft ceiling, a swimming pool with an underwater music system, a sensor system so that guests can control a room’s temperature and lighting and many more high tech additions, which maybe isn’t so surprising being the home to Microsoft’s co-founder.

Owner: Bill Gates, worth $67 billion
Market Value: $120.5 million, according to 2012 tax assessments
The high-tech Lake Washington complex owned by the world's second-richest man boasts a pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500- square foot gym and a library with domed reading room.



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