01/03/2024
We visited Coromandel near Lydenburg last weekend. Amazing house which was designed and built for Sydney Press built (he started Edgars). It was designed by an Italian architect Marco Zanuso and also built by Italian builders. The landscape architect was Patrick Watson and he did an amazing job of blending the architecture and the landscape. It took 6.5 years to build and was completed in 1975. They also built an amazing stable complex and had a very productive farm, 5800 ha in size. He created a trust for the farm, probably to benefit his wife and children…. Unfortunately he got divorced in 1987 and the children won control of the trust after a decade long legal battle and made it difficult for him to visit his dream farm. He died in 1997. The children auctioned the farm off in sections and the government bought the portion with the buildings on - and donated it to the local community as an empowerment project. One can now rent the house as self catering accommodation, but it is badly neglected and is deteriorating - so sad. They rent the farm land out to other farmers for a measly amount of money. It is a beautiful house with a planted roof. Strange layout - maybe more sculptural than practical but it is fascinating and a true landmark both for its unique architecture and landscape architecture.
