One of the most adventurous new housing schemes to come on the market this year is being launched this weekend near Newbridge, Co Kildare. Millers Weir is a one-off riverside development of ten 3,700 sq ft houses in the village of Athgarvan. Prices for the first five which are to be sold in this phase are £650,000 and some houses close to the river will cost £750,000.
They are almost completed and will be ready for occupation within two months. Sales are being handled by Jordan Town and Country Estate agents.
Architect Roisin Murphy, of Warren Architecture, designed the houses to a topclass specification using oak, steel and East African mahogany against white walls. The builder is local family firm P & P Construction. Outside walls of blue-grey brick and mahogany, and varied roof levels, give the exterior an interesting look. The overall design is a blend of traditional Irish and Scandinavian styles, although the houses are five times larger than most cottages.
The huge living space inside is mostly oak-floored and open-plan, with corridors and modern-looking squared pillars here and there. Where practical, in areas such as bedrooms, diningroom and the television room, the rooms are enclosed. Windows at different levels maintain the very bright effect which is one of the most striking aspects of the Millers Weir houses. Ceilings are high at six metres and are vaulted or curved for light reflection. A glassed-in central courtyard with a natural limestone floor has entrances on all sides which link the living areas with the bedroom wing. The courtyard has passive solar energy, so heat is naturally vented from here through the rest of the house.
The large open-plan kitchen faces the glass entrance door and is deliberately placed in the exact centre of the house. This room has specially-designed oak and sage-green units with grey Corian worktops. A good range of built-in accessories includes Danish Vola taps. There is a separate "working" end with two sinks for food preparation. An allowance of £15,000 will almost cover the custom-made showhouse units. The sittingroom to the front of the house is almost entirely glass-walled. It has a simple slate fireplace and corner window seats with storage space under. A timber deck walkway accessed through sliding doors runs along two outside walls.
A smaller room close to the kitchen has a rubber composite floor and is ideal as an informal breakfastroom or child's playroom. A sheltered side area for outdoor eating links the playroom, kitchen and a family room opposite. At the end of a galleried inner hall, the diningroom has a tall panelled ceiling and room for a good-sized dining table. The sleeping wing - with four double rooms (two en suite) and a family bathroom - is on the quiet side of the house. All five bedrooms are doubles with custom-designed fitted wardrobes. The main bedroom suite includes a good-sized sittingroom and a bathroom with polished limestone tiles, two Belfast sinks and a sunken bath. The guest bedroom looking out to the side garden has a quaint timber door to the garden. A staircase leads from the front hall to a railed gallery with a study off. This room has a viewing balcony off with a view of the river.
The houses have an "intelligent" wiring system for offsite web-cam control of household electrical equipment and intercom security. The half-acre gardens with each house have been kept simple to blend with the modern architecture.
Hundreds of oak trees have been planted along the avenue and on the boundaries, matching existing mature trees on the 11.5 acre site. On all sides, views are of fields with horses grazing and the picket fencing traditional in this part of Kildare. A boardwalk down to the river will be for the exclusive use of Millers Weir residents.
