Pretoria - Do you still have about R65 million spare after Wednesday’s Budget? Then next month you can bid for one of Pretoria’s, and indeed the country’s, most beautiful and luxurious houses.
The house in Laudium, dubbed “The Palace” will go under the hammer on March 25 because the owners, Farhaad Gani and his wife, have decided to downscale.
Designed by Nico van der Meulen Architects, the 2 500m2 mansion was built 12 years ago and took two years to complete.
The Italian-inspired mansion has a two-storey foyer and formal living and dining rooms, six bedrooms, an indoor entertainment theatre which caters for 20 people, a massage room, a gym, and a 50-person gazebo, and an indoor swimming pool with an elaborate water feature.
Then there are the four double garages, guardhouse and gatehouse.
Gani and his wife lived in the house with their four children, who have since married.
The couple feel it is now too big for them.
Stonehenge Auctioneers managing director Danny Moff said: “They decided it was time they moved on and allowed someone else to enjoy the grand features the home has to offer.”
Moff said one of the things Gani cherished the most about the house was the prayer room which was in a shape of a dome likened to the ones found in Mecca. “The room has prayers inscribed into the walls,” he said.
But above all, the property is a family home.
“The family mostly enjoyed the indoor pool and family theatre where they spent quality time,” Moff said.
But it is not only the house going under the hammer.
Some of the furniture and items in the house are also being sold because of their size.
“They were custom made for the features of the house and cannot fit into a smaller house, which they will be moving into.
“The dining room table, for example, accommodates 24 people,” he said.
Moff said the value of the home is estimated at R65m “but we will see how much it goes for on the day”.
The Gani home appears on homesoftherich.net.
Another home appearing on the list is Palazzo Steyn located in Midrand which is estimated at R250m.
The owner, Douw Steyn, recently said investing in a home in South Africa was based on the confidence he had in the future of this country.
The Gani home will be on view on March 15, 22, 23 and 24 from 2pm to 5pm.
Viewing is by appointment only and there is a R100 per person entrance fee, which will be donated to the Wings of Change Foundation.
Pretoria News