View from rear of large well maintained super home with large lot.
Across the U.S., tiny houses are all the rage. The average tiny house is 225 square feet, about one-tenth the average for all U.S. homes, and they rarely exceed 400 square feet. Tiny house popularity has gone up and down in recent years, but overall, acceptance of these adorable dwellings has been on the rise for over the past decade.
But not everyone wants a tiny home. It's mainly the wealthy who want what are known as “superhomes.”
These enormous mansions might even mistake the MacKenzie mansions of old for garden sheds. Often designed by so-called “star architects,” these superhomes are more than 20,000 square feet and cater to the desires of America's growing number of ultra-wealthy people, who yearn for seclusion, security and lavish hospitality.
The growing interest in super homes is driven by the number of billionaires in the United States. Earlier this year, a Forbes.com article reported that there are now around 815 billionaires in the United States, the highest number ever. Ever since the rise of the wealthy, what have most of the super-rich wanted to do? They have enriched their nest egg or built a brand new super home as a way to show off their wealth.
Here are two examples of superhomes.
McLain Flats Road, Aspen
The McClain Flats Road Superhome in Aspen, Colorado is spread across 21.4 acres and is approximately 35,000 square feet. The indoor athletic facilities include a full-size basketball court, professional tennis court, racquetball court, pool, game room, massage room, steam room, running track and a large professional gym, spanning an amazing 15,943 square feet. Additionally, adjacent to the Superhome is an indoor barn with 8 stalls, paddocks and a large pasture for riding and polo. The Superhome also features 12 full bathrooms, 1 half bathroom and 10 bedrooms.
Il Coure at Mediterra Residences in Naples, Florida.
The Naples, Florida, residence was designed by London Bay Development Group, also based in Naples, and is comprised of three separate buildings: a nearly 17,000-square-foot main residence, a 5,520-square-foot carriage barn that can accommodate 12 Price Collector vehicles, and a luxurious two-story guest house that is 2,300 square feet.
Combined, they create a superhome estate that includes approximately 25,000 square feet of prime real estate.
While the previous two Superhomes revealed a passion for collector cars and sports, this Superhome embodies the owners' love of family bonding. Amenities in the main residence include a countertop for baking with grandchildren, a music salon with piano, a yoga and exercise room, a formal dining room and a private dog room. The home's exterior features architecture influenced by French country mansions, with gorgeous landscaping and a series of entrances for convenience, privacy and entertainment. A canopied porte-cochere designed to protect the home from the weather is the final element of this Superhome, the very definition of a luxury home today.
