Lofty living in former Dublin 8 warehouse for €550,000

In 1999, developer Michael Roden working with architect Mary Donohoe brought a still rare addition to the Dublin property market – a loft development in a former industrial building. It is done all the time in other cities – the Manhattan loft now being a recognised architectural style – but because of the the dearth of well-located good-quality disused warehouses and factories ripe for conversion into residential units, it is still an usual find in the capital.

The former Crowe Wilson building, a clothing warehouse on Clanbrassil Terrace was divided into 41 units and offered for sale off the plans, in near shell condition, with buyers, mostly owner-occupiers, encouraged to decide just how their spacious units could be arranged and fitted out.

Common elements in all units include lofty 3m high ceilings, powder-finished steel-framed windows (remade to copy the original 1950s versions but with double glazing) and access via railed and glazed interior decks to what has matured into a luscious interior courtyard.

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The owners of number 16, a second-floor apartment with 107sq m (1,150sq ft) bought off the plans and laid out their apartment as a two-bed – both doubles with good storage and one with en suite – and laid solid oak flooring throughout.

The standout space which gives a true loft feel is the bright open plan livingroom with the fitted maple kitchen at one end with an island unit that doubles as a breakfast bar; a dining table that could seat eight, and room for a couple of sofas.

A cleverly positioned bookshelf provides a small entrance hall. This large livingroom – painted white like the rest of the apartment – features a wall of windows and outside is a west-facing balcony accessed via a glazed door. Off the inner hall is a bathroom and utility room.

Number 16, The Warehouse, is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald, seeking €550,000.