€3m - and you'll have Dublin at your feet

It's all about the views in a penthouse in Millennium Tower. B ernice Harrison reports

A penthouse apartment on the 15th and 16th floors of the Millennium Tower in Ringsend is on the market at €3 million through Lisney.

The duplex sits on top of the city's tallest apartment block and there's a sense, standing in its glass-walled livingroom, that all of Dublin is at your feet.

Dún Laoghaire, Howth and the Sugar Loaf are clearly visible but it's the rooftops of the city, the Grand Canal Basin, the activity in Dublin Port and the transformation of the docklands down below that really catches the eye.

All those super-contemporary new docklands apartment and commercial buildings that seem so imposing from street level look very different from up here.

There are plans to build even higher - the proposed U2 Tower is across the docks from the Millenium Tower - but until that goes up, the owners of this penthouse will be able to claim a unique perspective on the city.

When it first went on sale six years ago by tender there were rumours that Bono was one of the most interested parties. In the end, the 168sq m (1,808sq ft) three-bedroom apartment was bought by a businessman and has been lived in since by his adult children.

At the time it was widely reported that he paid €2.54 million for it, breaking a record in the city as the price - in old pounds in pre-metric days - broke the £1,000-plus per square foot barrier.

A lift opens into the outer hall on the bottom floor of the duplex penthouse.

The three bedrooms, one en suite, one with a balcony, as well as a family bathroom are all at this level, as is the kitchen.

It's part of a large airy L-shaped living space with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. The grey kitchen units with integrated appliances have stood the test of time well.

Out in the hall, a spiral staircase leads up to the livingroom, a large room like a vast glass box on top of the building. At over 5m high, the ceilings are tall, adding to the sense of space and light.

The whole room is surrounded by a narrow gravel path so it's possible to wander around and survey the views from nearly all angles. There is also a spacious, timber-floored deck.

Overall, the interior finish in the apartment seems dated and far less impressive than is commonly found in other high-end apartment schemes.

It doesn't, for example, have underfloor heating, snazzy bathrooms, an impressive entrance hall, dressingroom or a utility room, now firm features at this end of the market.

New owners will probably opt for a complete decorative makeover. Of the three bedrooms, only one, with its two walls of glass, is really a decent size, fitting the image of a glamourous penthouse.

The other is a small double and the third bedroom is small and would be better as a home office or study.

Parking is underneath the Millenium Tower; this penthouse comes with its own garage with space for two cars

The Millenium Tower, a Zoe Development, was designed by O'Mahony Pike. It has only one lift which seems on the skimpy side as it serves all 48 apartments in the block.

As to who will buy this unique penthouse? Well, rockstar rumours probably won't feature this time and it certainly won't be someone anxiously doing their sums to make up the mortgage.

An interesting feature of the market in Dublin has been the number of elderly cash-rich downsizers who have bought ritzy penthouses.

The spiral staircase in this one might rule that market out, but it's one for buyers who are looking for a unique living space with a bird's eye view of the city.

For a virtual tour of this property, click on nicemove.ie