Blackrock penthouse with a view

Merrion Hall is one of those boom-era builds that commuters using the N11 will be familiar with. A landmark building, it occupies the corner of the dual carriageway's intersection with Mount Merrion Avenue.

Constructed by Durkan and designed by Bennett McCleary Architects, it is situated next to a busy and very well stocked Applegreen, great for nipping out for brunch essentials at the weekend though the fact that it is open 24 hours means there will be through traffic at all hours of the day and night.

The penthouse has its own lift access which opens into a hall. You can choose to enter the apartment from either of the two doors bookending the space.

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One leads directly into the diningroom. And once inside you can appreciate that the builders compensated for the noise by installing triple glazing throughout. The rushing sound of traffic is considerably muted when you step through the diningroom and into a very spacious and bright kitchen with cherrywood units, polished black granite countertops and a huge picture window that frames a vast sweep of Dublin Bay and its shipping channels.

The kitchen has room for a sizeable round table and there is access out to a long terrace, one of three in the property.

The best place for sun is just off the diningroom and while somewhat sheltered, it does overlook the noisy N11 where there is a constant swoosh of passing commuter traffic.

The diningroom leads through to the living space, a large, open-plan room that is almost too big to use as one room and is set up with two distinct seating areas; a traditional configuration of two facing sofas that are set in front of a gas-fuelled fire and a second area where an L-shaped sofa is positioned against one of the property’s floor-to-ceiling windows and faces a wall where the TV has been installed.

Sub-dividing this area would solve this problem. Clear glass walls and doors or industrial-style metal glazing would really cosy it up without losing any of the lovely light these rooms have.

Outdoor dining

The most dramatic space in this penthouse is a large, double-height outdoor dining area, just off the TV area. Its impressive contemporary dual-aspect design includes views of the red and white Pigeon House towers and the roofs of Mount Merrion.

With both northerly and westerly aspects, this is a space that merits a slight change of use. If, subject to planning permission, you could glaze it over and make a winter garden or orangerie, it could work year round rather than the four or five days in summer that are more likely in Ireland.

The property, which measures 146sq m (1,572sq ft), has three bedrooms.

The master opens out to the double-height outdoor space and has a double shower en suite bather. One of the other doubles faces the Applegreen garage next door. The third has lovely sea views although not at bed level.

The apartment comes with two underground car parking spaces and vehicular access is through the Ashcourt apartment complex on Mount Merrion Avenue.

The property is asking €795,000 through agents SherryFitzGerald.