Dazzling views from eleventh floor in D4

BallsbridgeA three-bedroom penthouse in the 1960s high rise block, Ardoyne House in Ballsbridge, is expected to make over €1.8 million when it goes to tender next month.

The 11th floor 148 sq m (1,600sqft) apartment is coming to the market for the first time since it was built, having been owned by the Maxwell family, who developed Ardoyne House.

Apartment number 112 needs refurbishment, but viewers will be dazzled by the views that stretch from the city centre to the Dublin mountains, with Sandymount Strand in the distance, and the green acres of Herbert Park immediately below.

The layout is linear-style, with the principal rooms all in a row to take advantage of the views. There's a large livingroom with a seating and dining area, and sliding doors to a balcony that looks down over the development's private gardens as well as over the park.

The balcony narrows into a walkway leading to a second large terrace that leads off the main bedroom, located at the other end of the apartment. Altogether, there is around 41 sq m (450 sq ft) of balcony space. Of the two remaining bedrooms, one is a large double, while the other is a good-sized single that has been used as an office.

The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom with original sky blue fittings, while the two additional bedrooms share a shower room that has been modernised. The kitchen too has a range of recently fitted Shaker-style units, and has a wall-to-wall window overlooking the park. Even the apartment's hall has a large picture window that looks across Ballsbridge towards the city.

New owners may well rearrange the entire accommodation to create what could be a stunning contemporary living space.

Meanwhile, the common areas of the building, including the entrance hall with its concierge desk, are due for a major revamp in the coming months.

Ardoyne House residents have raised a considerable fund from the sale of garage sites that have since been converted into luxurious mews houses. There may well be further scope for development on the site, which includes several garages and a large garden.

Apartment 112 comes with two adjoining garages in a row to the front of the development.

The service charge is around €2,800 per year, which includes the concierge service.