Luxury apartments make a return to Dublin 4

Embassy Court, a complex of 13 apartments and three penthouses designed by McCrossan O'Rourke Manning, was constructed in 2004 by Twinlite Developments. Operated as luxury short-term rentals, the units are now on the market for the first time through estate agent Savills, with prices ranging from €775,000 to €2.5 million.

Managing the complex, according to Eugene Larkin, who together with sons Michael and Rick operate Twinlite, was "similar to running a large hotel – with round-the-clock demands".

Larkin left his native Ballinasloe more than 40 years ago and came to Dublin as a bricklayer.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 7

He later established Twinlite, whose developments include The Mills and Belville in Castleknock and more than 2,500 houses, a shopping centre and hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15.

Embassy Court – five ambassadors have been resident – is ultra-luxurious and is in turnkey condition due to recent facelifts. All units have south/west facing balconies overlooking the gardens, and are plumbed for gas so no ugly gas bottles for barbecues need detract from the swish finish.

Penthouses

Apartments have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and the smallest unit is 92sq m. On the upper end, with prices to match, are the three-bedroom penthouses. Spread over two floors, sizes range from 175sq m to 209sq m.

Discreet is not a word that comes to mind here – all the fittings are the last word in luxury – down to the mood lighting which itself has four settings.

Penthouse 14, with a price tag of €2 million, has a living area of 205sq m .

Upstairs, accessed via a bespoke spiral staircase, lies a mezzanine complete with a large bar. “It can have a multitude of uses,” says Larkin, “from a home cinema, office, additional living room or billiards room.”

Its current use as a bar and party area will appeal to those who enjoy entertaining large numbers – the unit could easily house 150 guests.

This is the second complex of luxurious apartments in Ballsbridge that were originally used as high-end corporate lets to come to the market in recent times. Last year 31-33 Merrion Road – the site of the old British embassy, had units snapped up by international and Irish buyers.

The highest price achieved for a unit in the Merrion Road development, which has more traditional finishes and larger communal gardens, was just over €1 million.

Embassy Court, the epitome of opulence, includes two parking spaces and a separate lock-up – perfect for storing a multitude of sports gear. The development will appeal to the well-heeled in search of a spacious swish pad in the heart of Dublin 4.

Still to come in Ballsbridge...

5 Percy Place, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Launching later this month, 55 Percy Place, off Baggot Street, is Paddy McKillen Jr’s Oakmount development of 12 luxury apartments. Designed by ODOS architects, the west-facing units, vary in size up to 145sq m which is a three-bed unit over two floors. The swish interiors include kitchens by Allmilmo, and lounges and bedrooms by Bushell Interiors, wooden flooring and Siemens/Neff appliances. Prices from €850,000 through Sherry FitzGerald

Project Trinity, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Once the dream of developer Sean Dunne who paid €380 million for the site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court Hotels in 2005, this prime location of 6.8 acres in the heart of Ballsbridge is currently being developed by Joe O’Reilly’s Chartered Land. It purchased the site – now named Project Trinity – in 2015 for an estimated €170 million, which includes planning permission for 490 luxurious apartments, a hotel and retail units. Demolition work has started. Phase 1 will see the construction of 200 apartments designed by O’Mahony Pike on the old Berkeley Hotel site, and they are expected to be completed by 2017. The Ballsbridge Hotel (formerly Jurys) will continue to operate until mid-2018, when Phase 2 of the development will commence.

Number 1, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Another Dublin 4 reverie was Ray Grehan’s plan to develop the former UCD Veterinary College site on Shelbourne Road in Ballsbridge. Grehan paid €171 million for the 2.04-acre site in 2005. Developer Luke Comer paid a substantially more modest €22 million in 2013. Comer has joined forces with Mayo-based brothers Padraic and Martin McHale and construction is advanced on the site. Up to 130,000sq ft is devoted to 88 luxury residential units over four floors with glass facades. The complex will also feature a leisure centre with an 18m pool, gym and spa. Pricing is envisaged at between €1,000 and €1,100 per sq ft.

Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Former Bovale company director Tom Bailey, is developing the site of Dunluce on Anglesea Road in a private capacity. Purchased in 2005 for €6.2 million, the original plans sought permission for 36 apartments in four blocks, which were later reduced to 29 units.Cranes on the site, and a planning extension that was granted in June 2015, suggest it’s all systems go.

Bailey remains tight-lipped about the scheme but it will add to the stock of exclusive apartments on that stretch of road, including St Ann’s and Hazeldene. The planning decision indicates the project must be completed by December 31st, 2016.