Inside Author Neha Hiranandani’s Luxurious Dubai Penthouse

Overlooking mesmerising sky vistas, the award-winning penthouse residence of author and columnist Neha Hiranandani is a nod to the late Belgian surrealist René Magritte

Not everyone is able to translate their vision from the drawing board to the canvas of life, but one glance at author and columnist Neha Hiranandani’s palatial home and you know that there is more to her story than an abundance of luxury nestled up in the clouds. Overlooking the Dubai skyline and featuring three bars, six bedrooms, 18 bathrooms and six terraces, the penthouse residence in Dubai Marina is something out of a storybook.

The Armani grey marble staircase opens into the atrium lounge and floats above a gorgeous water feature; The 20-feet-high ceiling holds the ‘Oh Mei Ma’ chandelier by Ingo Maurer

Speaking of books, the author of the best-selling Girl Power! Indian Women Who Broke the Rules, has much to say about the women she selected to feature. “Selecting which women to profile was easily my favourite and the hardest part of the project,” shares the first-time author about a journey that began as a pet project for her daughter Zoya.

“Of course, there are some household names but personally, I am very proud of the untold stories.” After reading Rebel Girls, a New York Times’ best-selling book featuring 100 stories about the lives of extraordinary women, Zoya wanted to learn more about such women from India.

Connecting the 89th and 90th floors is the white Nautilus spiral staircase which leads to the Library of Collectors’ Editions. The surrounding walls and floors are made of Statuario marble and imbedded with Viabizzuno lighting

Determined to showcase the glorious stories of Indian women, Neha structured her research, and the concept became a reality when Scholastic published Girl Power! in 2019.

The book has since become a bestseller and garnered hundreds of positive reviews. “I wanted to move beyond well-known women and tell stories of ordinary women who have done extraordinary things,” Neha says, and verily so.

Among others, the reader will find stories of a spy princess who parachuted into France, a warrior queen who defended India from the Portuguese six times, a domestic worker who went on to win the national award for healthcare and a sharp-shooter who learned shooting after becoming a grandmother.

An interior view of the guest room comprising bespoke furniture, state-of-the-art electronics, walk-in wardrobes with a built-in safe and custom-made carpets

Looking to inspire other young women, Neha, who started her career with UNICEF after completing her education at Wellesley College and Harvard University, is eager to see what the new generation will make of such unforgettable stories. “From organising and using the power of social media to collaborating – the next generation are achievers and doers and I’m so excited to see what the next generation of women will achieve.”

Working with the government and civil society to influence the education policy of Indian schools, and then spending a year and a half researching and interviewing the women for her book, gave Neha a unique insight into life from the other end of the spectrum, where she discovered the passion, struggle and determination of ordinary women.

Author and columnist Neha Hiranandani flipping through her best-selling book Girl Power!

This inspiration then translated into finding a place to call home in Dubai, where she chose to start her family and design her dream home. “So many of the artists that inspired us blurred the line between fact and fiction.

This house is an ode to that, to the idea of the waking dream,” says Neha, explaining the aesthetic of the three-storey residence fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views of the city in what is the second-highest residential tower in the world.

White marble interspersed with onyx and travertine lend an earthy tone to this home in the clouds, where an 18-foot long cloud-light named ‘le Nuage’ is installed by Wout Wessemius, suspended above a 22-seater dining table to further accentuate the airy vibes.

The view from the 88th floor overlooking the Dubai Marina and JBR, the Dubai Harbour, SZR, JLT and the city’s glittering skyline. Each of the 8 outdoor terraces, across three floors, are fitted with Paola Lenti furniture

“The home was inspired by the surrealist René Magritte who famously said: ‘If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a translation of the dream’. And so, the house erases the line between the real and surreal with floating onyx, suspended staircases, hidden pathways and indoor clouds,” explains Neha.

Offering a luxurious escape from the busy streets below, a walk through this penthouse blurs all notions of reality, creating the illusion of walking, waking, dining and unwinding amongst the clouds. On the 88th floor are four terraces, the family living area and the atrium lounge, where an Armani grey marble staircase floats over a stunning water feature.

The spacious bathrooms include a full-sized rainshower by Gessi and a Spanish limestone bathtub including premium fittings and Travertine marble

Above it hangs the ‘Oh Mei Ma’ chandelier by Ingo Maurer, handcrafted by artisans in Munich while the plunge pool on the same floor, one of the highest swimming pools, is situated 300 metres above sea level.

Stepping onto the 89th floor, the library, home cinema and bar create a relaxing zone in between bespoke ‘his’ and ‘her’ offices fitted with secret passageways and stately cabinets.

The lavish ‘grand room’ comprises several custom-made features such as the full-sized, bespoke ‘Tree in the clouds’ created by Italian artisans on-site; A world-class sound system from Artcoustic; Lighting by Martin Professional; A four-piece award-winning couch known as the ‘Walter Knoll Circle’ created using a single piece of furniture

The most astonishing element on the 90th floor is the ‘Tree in the Clouds’ which was built on-site by Italian artisans to create the experience of sitting under a tree with the clouds floating by.

“The idea is to play with the mind and set fire to the imagination,” says Neha, of this place she calls home – a place where dreams really do become a reality.

All Images Courtesy Of Neha Hiranandani