"Not a Garage but a Gallery"…Billionaires Buying Penthouses for Supercar Storage

Recently, it has been reported that purchasing penthouses for supercar garages is becoming a trend among billionaires in the United States and Europe. Some wealthy individuals are spending tens of billions of Korean won to construct buildings specifically for garages, installing special flooring materials and heating systems. Some automobile manufacturers are also responding to this demand by developing residences specialized for supercar garages, indicating that the related market is expected to become more active in the future.

Interior view of the Porsche Design Tower, an apartment building with a supercar garage established in 2017. Supercars can be transported inside the home via a car elevator.
[Image source: Porsche Design Tower]

원본보기 아이콘

According to CNN on the 3rd (local time), it has become a trend among billionaires in the US and Europe to design their own penthouses for garages or renovate homes accordingly. This involves connecting garages, which were previously isolated from living spaces in typical homes, to living rooms or even constructing buildings equipped with vehicle elevators connected directly to their rooms.

Graham Harris, Managing Director of SHH, a British architectural firm, spent ?125 million (approximately 207 billion KRW) solely on building a mansion in London with a garage for 26 supercars. In an interview with CNN, he said, "Now, this place should be called a 'gallery space' rather than a garage," adding, "The era when garages were merely concrete bunkers is over."

This garage mansion includes various large-scale recreational facilities such as a bowling alley, screen golf course, and a racing car simulator. Additionally, custom LED displays worth ?300,000 (approximately 500 million KRW) have been installed throughout to highlight the appearance of the supercars. CNN also reported that special resin was used as the flooring material to effectively preserve the supercars.

Model house of the Bentley Residence penthouse for garages, scheduled to be completed in 2026 in Miami, USA. [Image source: Bentley Residence]

원본보기 아이콘

Gil Dezer, a billionaire who built the 'Porsche Design Tower,' a supercar garage building in Miami, USA, in 2017 along with Porsche, told CNN in an interview, "I always want to keep my cars close, drive them, and immerse myself and those around me in Autopia." He is the owner of the Porsche Design Tower, having invested $480 million (approximately 628.5 billion KRW) in constructing the building.

Dezer, CEO of the real estate development company Dezer Development, also installed a vehicle elevator he personally designed, known as the 'Dezervator,' in the Porsche Design Tower. He is also involved in the construction and sales of the 'Bentley Residence,' scheduled for completion in 2026 in collaboration with Bentley. As demand for garage residences grows, sales are expected to proceed smoothly.

CNN added that the trend of purchasing supercar garage-exclusive mansions or residences among billionaires in the US and Europe is expected to continue for some time.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.