Imperial Skyscrapers Rule Mumbai Skyline

Work continues on what is one of the first real skyscraper projects to go up in India which are expected to be completed later this year.

Grandly named Imperial Towers, the twin towers that have heralded India's skyscraper boom are the work of home-grown architect, Hafeez Contractor, and are located in Mumbai.

Upon completion the twins will stand at a height of 249 metres and were designed to be India's tallest towers - a title that will likely only briefly held as the flood gates have opened for skyscraper construction in India.

Located on former slums, the towers went through years of legal wranglers before finally getting the green light. In the process, the court cases the project generated has mapped out the legal principles of slum redevelopment that are now standard across India that see those living in the slums given new land and rehoused for free.

The towers sit on a sloping podium that will house parking spaces for the towers, the roof of which is landscaped with greenery and water fountains. From here the towers which are hexagonal in shape rise to flat peaks topped with mesh like pyramids and the obligatory spire.

The towers are constructed from steel, concrete and glazing and are mainly a sky blue colour with white and grey accents. The facades are heavily balconied, maximising the sea views that almost all floors of the towers will enjoy. Hanging gardens feature throughout the towers.

The towers will be purely residential in use and feature apartments from 3 bedroom along with duplexes 930 square metres in size (almost 10,000 square feet!) and will have private swimming pools, luxury being the keyword of the build for the developer.

So excited were the Indian people with the towers that space was sold out off plan in record time, something that's an unusual situation in India.