A stunning three-bedroom apartment facing the sea in the Pavilion complex in Dún Laoghaire is set to make over €2.5 million at auction through Sherry FitzGerald on May 23rd. Eoin Lyons reports
The third floor double apartment, number 100/101, was originally two units, now amalgamated into 205sq m (2,150sq ft) of living space with triple aspect views over Dún Laoghaire harbour and Scotsmans Bay. It comes with two surface car-parking spaces in the gated development.
Far larger than the average apartment, it will appeal to affluent empty-nesters who want to be close to restaurants and yacht clubs, the town centre and the Dart or to someone looking for an easily managed base in Dublin.
However it would also make a great family home.
Its size makes it extremely rare. Just 1 per cent of Irish apartments have over 125sq m (1,345sq ft), according to a survey in the latest copy of Housing Times. This apartment, however, has more room than the average four-bedroom house, and a superb layout that has the living, kitchen and dining areas overlooking the sea, and the bedrooms and bathrooms leading off a separate corridor at the back of the apartment.
Both zones have two balconies each. There is excellent storage, both in the bedrooms, in the large kitchen that links the living and diningrooms, and in a hallway which links the front and back sections.
There is also a small utility room and study with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
Designed by Scott Tallon Walker in a rare foray into the residential market, and built in 2000, the Pavilion has proved a very successful anchor for the redevelopment of the Dún Laoghaire seafront.
This apartment is in the end block which is raised high above the cafés that front the development, giving the third floor more of a fifth-floor outlook.
A lift opens to a private lobby from where one enters the apartment. A hall with a cut-out window gives a first view of the bay while the floor-to-ceiling bay window in the livingroom gives an ever changing view of the harbour.
At the far end of the room, sliding doors open onto a balcony overlooking the county hall, with views across to Sandymount.
A wide, curving kitchen links the livingroom with the diningroom and study, next to which is access to the rear section of the apartment with its two large double rooms and sizeable single.
The combining of the apartments means there are definite "public" and "private" areas, while the merger also resulted in good-sized bedrooms, with the main bedroom originally a livingroom. It has its own terrace, a fireplace, and a walk-in dressingroom leading to the en suite.
Sinead Moore of Beyond The Hall Door, the television series now turned design service, decorated the apartment with a monochrome scheme in the living areas and pale tones in the bedrooms, with major expenditure in the bathroom and en suites.
The spec is high with high gloss black wood floors, teak counter tops, and numerous downlighters.
The south side of the apartment overlooks the grounds of the Royal Marine Hotel which is currently being redeveloped. The ground immediately beside The Pavilion will be open space.
• For a virtual tour of this property, click on www.nicemove.ie
