Dublin 2: from €390,000: The final phase of apartments at Hanover Quay have views of the Liffey and a garden by Diarmuid Gavin, writes Orna Mulcahy, Property Editor
It's not surprising that, so far, 70 per cent of the apartments Hanover Quay in Dublin's south docklands have been bought by owner occupiers, in other words, people who a home, not just an investment. The 13 block development built between Sir John Rogerson Quay and the Grand Canal Basin, is a good example of a planned new neighbourhood on the fringes of the city centre, where shops, cafes and communal gardens and, of course the water, are the backdrop for 292 apartments, the majority of them spacious two and three bedroom units.
Builders Park and Sisk are still on site with the final phase of apartments due to be finished before Christmas. These go on sale today through Hamilton Osborne King with prices starting at €390,000 for one-bedroom units. The most expensive aparments are the two and three bedroom penthouses overlooking the Liffey which start from €995,000.
Diarmuid Gavin's garden from the Chelsea Flower Show has been installed in time for today's launch, its huge cement pods rearing out of the ground, flanked by rows of mature trees in a courtyard overlooked by the apartments now for sale.
About a quarter of the 78 units in the final three buildings have already been snapped up in pre sales bookings, including the more interesting corner units overlooking the Liffey, but there is still a good selection of one, two and three beds with both Liffey and garden views.
Designed by O'Mahony Pike architects, Hanover Quay stands out in the frantic array of buildings along the Dublin quays.
The glass-fronted buildings facing the canal basin are easily the most attractive in the city, while the Liffey side section has superb views up and down the river.
The best apartments are those with dual aspect - the front-facing rooms enjoying the Liffey view with rooms at the back facing south-west and with balconies big enough to be used as outdoor livingrooms in good weather. The Liffey-side rooms have balconies, too, with clever folding glass screens that can be closed to make a winter garden.
The standard spec is high, with apartments coming with underfloor heating, Italian kitchens with granite worktops and a full range of appliances, including a washing machine in the purpose-built utility room that, in the better units, leads on to a spacious hot press.
One-bedroom apartments with approximately 50sq m (541sq ft) start at €390,000 and rise by €10,000 on a floor-by-floor basis. Two-bedroom units with 68sq m (740sq ft) start at €495,000; three-bedroom duplexes with 93sq m (1,001sq ft) cost from €510,000 while two and three-bedrooms penthouses start from €995,000.
The penthouse apartments have very high ceilings with glazed rooflights creating a conservatory-like effect that is countered by air conditioning.
