The crown jewel of Bel Air, a 4-acre lot with 360-degree views, will soon be home to the largest residence built in the United States this century. Located at the very top of the prestigious Los Angeles neighborhood, the lot sports completely unobstructed views. The Pacific Ocean, neighboring Beverly Hills, downtown Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley will all be visible from various rooms in the soon-to-be-completed modern home. The 20-month construction project will yield a 74,000-square-foot main residence and three smaller homes. The estate’s total square footage will exceed 100,000, making the project even larger than Florida’s infamous, never-completed Versailles mansion.

The film producer and real estate developer Nile Niami is building the home without a buyer lined up. Amenities ranging from a 45-seat cinema with an IMAX-size screen to a nightclub make the spec home a standout project despite its size. Renderings by the architect, McClean Design, show plans for a room with jellyfish tanks installed in three walls. The list of amenities continues, sounding more like a description of a large-scale resort than a private residence. The homeowners will enjoy a Monaco-style casino, a 30-car garage, a bowling alley, four swimming pools, and a 20,000-square-foot artificial lawn (to offset water consumption).

Long before the home hits the market, its $500 million price tag has made headlines. But only time will tell if the selling price will be one for the record books. (mccleandesign.com)