Grapevine: Work Begins on Schumi's Mansion

Having bought three years ago a lakefront 15-hectare (roughly the equivalent of 20 football fields) property in the town of Gland, Switzerland, works are finally under way in the construction of a 2,200 square metres, three-floors mansion for the German driver, his wife Corinna, and their children Gina Maria and Mick.

German daily Bild reports that two hundred people are hard at work in the construction of the Schumacher family house, which covers 730 square metres of estate space, with another 400 square metres home for the guests.

The mansion will include 24 rooms, including eight bedrooms and five bathrooms; a 20 metres indoor swimming pool with jacuzzi, hammam and sauna; a gym; a cinema with 30 seats; an underground garage big enough for 25 cars; a 63 square metres 'trophies' room; a 15 metres tall tower - the top of which will house the Ferrari driver's office; and a wall for free climbing.

The construction work will cost an estimated 24 million EUR ($29m USD), on top of the 11m EUR already paid for the bare estate, which also includes a 200 metres-long strip of private beach next to the Geneva Lake.

Schumacher told the German paper that the construction amounts to more than just a massive monetary burden. "It's an extraordinary pleasure to build such a home, but to be honest overlooking the works is very stressful," the Ferrari driver said.

The lucky family won't be able to enjoy the comforts of the new mansion for a couple more years, though. "It won't be ready before summer 2007," added Schumacher.