Going for green next to Cabinteely park

Dublin 18/from €475,000: Brother and sister developer team Ruth and Neil Monaghan are building smart and eco-friendly apartments in south Dublin. Fiona Tyrrell reports

A new residential scheme in south Dublin going on the market this weekend hopes to prove that green homes can be swish as well as sustainable.

Ecological design and sustainable principles have been priorities at Watermint, a small apartment scheme which will overlook Cabinteely Park in the village on the Old Bray Road.

It is being built on the site of a former petrol station on the corner of Brennanstown Road and Bray Road, across from Cabinteely Garda station. It is a few minutes' drive from Cornelscourt shopping centre.,

Taking its name from a variety of mint found in Cabinteely Park, Watermint will comprise 13 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses all with views over Cabinteely Park.

The scheme is being developed by brother and sister team Neil and Ruth Monaghan, members of the Doyle hotelier family.

Neil was involved in the classy Elysium scheme on Upper Leeson Street and, with his new company Monti, has plans for more sustainable schemes in Dublin.

Wood chip boilers, solar panels and communal wormeries are just some of the sustainable elements planned for the scheme.

Green concerns, however, will not take away from aesthetics and the fit-out at Watermint promises to be both sustainable and stylish.

Kitchens will boast sustainable timber kitchens with recycled worktops and Miele appliances. Bathrooms will have handmade Japanese-style teak units (produced from environmentally protected sources, of course) and stone tiles.

Green principles have been incorporated from the design stage. All apartments will have floor-to-ceiling south-facing glazing to maximise sunlight and minimise heat loss.

Ecocem cement will be used to decrease carbon emissions during construction and drainwater harvesting will provide irrigation for a garden to the rear of the scheme.

The scheme is for sale off plans through Gunne New Homes with prices starting at €475,000 for 52sq m (559sq ft) one-bedroom units. Two-bedroom apartments with 74-92sq m (796-990sq ft) of living space will cost from €650,000 and three-bedroom apartments with 95sq m (1,022sq ft) start at €750,000.

Gunne New Homes will be launching Watermint this Saturday and plans can be viewed at the SAS Radisson Hotel on the Stillorgan Road, Co Dublin. Completions are expected by spring 2008.