Ireland’s top 10 penthouses
It’s still all about location, even for homes at the high-end of the market, writes Katy McGuinness
DURING the downturn, large and high-end penthouse apartments languished on the Dublin property market. From 2007 some were on the market for years on end with no bites. In the cases of some of Dublin’s swishest high-rise homes, aside from the occasional advert or film shoot, they were locked up and mothballed.
But these days things couldn’t be more different. Agent Owen Reilly, who is based in the Docklands where many of these apartments are situated, recently concluded the sale of a duplex apartment on Hanover Quay for €1.5m, and agreed a sale for another penthouse on Gallery Quay for significantly over its €1.2m asking price.
So the economy has lifted since penthouses were mothballed, but what else has changed to drive the prices of good penthouses over the million mark for the first time since the Tiger?
First there’s cost. Many of those penthouses were constructed at the high end of the Celtic Tiger when prices were artificially high. They were kitted out with the plushest fittings which would simply not make sense to install today.
Second comes the increased influx of foreign direct investment firms into Ireland, with many coming from the States and mainland Europe where large apartments are a way of life. This has enhanced both the sales and investment market, given that lettings are now in high demand at the top end for accommodating visiting executives.
Third, is the factor affecting every property type in Dublin: supply. By definition you can only have a penthouse or two in every tall building and in the last few years, as it has been reported, apartment blocks have just not been economical to build.
“There is a larger pool of buyers than there is of sellers at the moment in this segment,” says Reilly, “and that’s pushing prices up. There are very few proper penthouses and large apartments in Dublin, so when they do come on the market there’s lots of interest from singles, couples and — increasingly — families, although many of the latter would be non-Irish. We have both traders-up and traders-down on our database, as well as investors.”
To get a taste of what’s available, we’ve listed Ireland’s top 10 most expensive penthouses. But it seems that being on top of things still doesn’t count at the high end of the market unless the address is right. So it’s no coincidence that eight of our top 10 penthouses are in D4, and most in Ballsbridge. We’ve ranked our 10 by price.
1 Penthouse, 21 Merrion Village, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE €1.95m
AGENT: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 2698888
The Merrion Village development was built in 1986 and like many apartment complexes built pre-boom, the dimensions are more spacious. The penthouse has 2,228 sq ft of living space, with lavish interiors that include marble and timber floors and leather-lined walls.
The kitchen is fitted with embossed wall and floor units, and marble worktops and splashbacks, while the opulent en-suite bathroom and shower room features mosaic-tiled walls interspersed with 14kg gold-leaf tiles and multi-coloured fibre optic lights. There’s underfloor heating throughout and lift access. Outside, there’s a large sunny terrace and two separate Main picture shows Hanover Quay which sold recently for €1.5m. (1 & 2) The living room areas in Merrion Village and Lansdowne Place; (3) dining at Dunluce, Anglesea Road; (6) Neptune House, Blackrock. balconies with views over Sandymount Strand and Dublin Bay, plus a designated underground parking space and a secure storage lock-up.
2 Lansdowne Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: Two-bedrooms range from over €1m to €1.65m
AGENT: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 6671888
Located at the corner of Lansdowne Road and Shelbourne Road, the site of the former Trinity Botanic Gardens, Lansdowne Place is an upmarket pavilion-style development of 215 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as four-bedroom penthouses, some with as much as 4,000 sq ft of living space. The ceiling and door heights are generous and the interior finishes by London firm Goddard Littlefair feature natural wood and stone and traditional joinery. The apartments feature open-plan living areas, sunrooms and balconies, and there are custom-designed integrated kitchens and
bathrooms finished in limestone and marble. Unusually for Dublin, the development has a
24-hour concierge, and residential amenities include a lounge, library, cinema room and gym with sauna and steam room. The gardens have been designed by Bernard Seymour and retain many original specimen trees, recalling the botanic history of the site. Construction of all phases is expected to be finished by the end of
2019 — in the meantime, prospective purchasers can visit the marketing suite where there is a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom show apartment. Two-bedroom apartments currently available are in the Barrington Building and the Hutchins Building, with further releases of two-bedroom-plus-study apartments priced in the region of €2m expected to come to the market before the middle of the year.
3 Dunluce, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: Three-bedroom penthouses priced from €1.7m AGENT: Lisney (01) 6382700
Located between the Merrion Cricket grounds and the River Dodder, adjacent to Herbert Park, the small gated Dunluce development of just 26 apartments has already won awards for its architecture and design. Each apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace, and the interiors feature high ceilings and designer kitchens and bathrooms by Kitchen Elegance and Villeroy & Boch. The three-bedroom penthouses all have more than 1,600 sq ft of living space, are A3 energy-rated and have wrap-around balconies with views of the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains.
4 No 7 Edward Lane, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: €1.4m AGENT: Lisney (01) 6382700
This four-bedroom duplex penthouse was built in 2007 and has 1,878 sq ft of living space and a BER of C1. Edward Lane is a gated development off Bloomfield Avenue beside the Royal Hospital. The penthouse was designed by Douglas Wallace Architects, with an emphasis on natural light and floor-to-ceiling glazing throughout. The living spaces are open plan, and the two outdoor terraces have views over the green spaces of the Royal Hospital and across to the Dublin Mountains. The living space is arranged over two levels, with the contemporary open-plan kitchen-dining-living area located on the top floor, and the four double bedrooms, two en-suites and main bathroom located on the third floor. Private parking is included.
5 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: €1.1m
AGENT: Coldwell Banker Leeson Estates
(01) 4110012
Two adjoining garden apartments in a multi-family period building on Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge — a two-bedroom with 968 sq ft of living space and a one-bedroom with 581 sq ft — offer the opportunity (subject to planning permission) to create one very large 1,550 sq ft apartment within walking distance of the city centre. The apartment to the front consists of hallway, kitchen, living /dining room, double bedroom and bathroom, while the larger one to the rear has two bedrooms, an entrance hall, living/dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
6 Neptune House, Blackrock, Co Dublin
ASKING PRICE: €1.4m
AGENT: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 6671888
The luxury development at Neptune House comprises 13 newly built houses and four large apartments in a refurbished Georgian villa, one of which remains for sale. This two-bedroom apartment has 2,066 sq ft of living space, with original period features that include high ceilings, stained-glass windows and ornate plaster work. Neptune House dates from 1767 and was once home to The Earl of Clonmel, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. In 1916 it was a base for British reinforcement troops who landed in Dun Laoghaire for the purpose of defeating the Republican Army at the GPO and later, during the First World War, it was used as an auxiliary hospital. Although BER exempt, the apartment is energy efficient and features a condensing gas boiler, double-glazed sash windows and excellent levels of insulation. Internally, the apartment is fitted to a high standard, with premium integrated appliances in the kitchen and smart-fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms.
7 No 15 Embassy Court, Prince of Wales Terrace, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: €1.795m AGENT: Savills (01) 6181300
Number 15 Embassy Court is a three-bedroom penthouse apartment with 1,882 sq ft of living space in a small residential development with just 17 apartments and penthouses. No 15 has an entrance hallway, a large sitting/dining room, separate kitchen, family bathroom, three bedrooms (one of which is en-suite) and a spacious mezzanine level, which could function either as an entertaining space, second reception area or home office. There’s a large south-west facing balcony with plenty of space for eating outdoors and two car spaces in the underground car park along with a large storage locker. The lift is accessible from the car park level and there is only one other penthouse accessible from the second-floor lift lobby.
8 No 5 Laurel, Hazeldene, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: €1.15m AGENT: Quillsen (01) 6323000
Hazeldene is a private gated development located within easy reach of the Merrion Shopping Centre, Elm Park Golf Club and all the amenities of Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. This two-bedroom, three-bathroom duplex apartment has 1,614 sq ft of living space and has been modernised to a high standard — it is in turnkey condition. Terraces accessed from the living room and the two bedrooms have magnificent views and there is a designated parking space as well as visitor parking.
9 Penthouse Apartment, The Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
ASKING PRICE: €1.2m
AGENT: Galvin Property and Finance
(01) 4964612
This top floor, three-bedroom apartment is located in the mature, gated Sweepstakes development, which sits in landscaped communal gardens in the heart of Ballsbridge. The development is popular with downsizers and investors geared towards the high-end rental market. The apartment has over 1,800 sq ft of living space, is in excellent condition and has plenty of storage. There are three double bedrooms, one of which is en-suite, a kitchen/breakfast room with separate utility room and an open-plan living/dining room, as well as a family bathroom. There are also three separate balconies.
10 Penthouse, The Pavilion, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
ASKING PRICE: €1.2m AGENT: JLL (01) 6731600
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom dual-aspect penthouse has spectacular uninterrupted sea views across the bay to Howth and is located in a gated development with designated parking, close to the DART station and the retail and leisure amenities of Dun Laoghaire. The entrance hallway features dramatic black and white marble flooring and a pyramid skylight that floods the space with natural light. The large living and dining room have floor to ceiling windows with sliding doors to access the balcony. The contemporary galley style kitchen is fully fitted with integrated Neff appliances and polished granite work surfaces. There are three double bedrooms; the master has a walk-in wardrobe and a full en-suite bathroom, and all three bedrooms have access to the large south facing balcony.