Apartments set in the gardens of Victorian villa

DÚN LAOGHAIRE FROM €350,000A new development of just over 80 apartments, laid out in three blocks around a one-acre 19th century walled garden, go on sale today

Apartments to be built in the gardens of an historic house on Rochestown Avenue in Dún Laoghaire go on sale today with prices starting at €350,000.

The development, called Kensington Lodge is being sold from plans through Finnegan Menton. The Victorian villa the heart of the 3.5 acre property, is also to be refurbished and sold. Just over 80 apartments will be built in three blocks laid out around the original house and its walled one-acre garden.

The first block of 34 apartments go on sale this evening, with one-bedroom units starting at €350,000; two-bedroom apartments will cost from €450,000, while a large three-bedroom penthouse will cost €750,000.

Kensington Lodge was originally owned by the Malpas family, a wealthy family which once owned much of the land in Dún Laoghaire, Deansgrange and Cabinteely. They were also responsible for building the Obelisk on Killiney Hill.

The property is located near the Pottery Road junction at Baker's Corner on a large site of 3.5 acres, of which one acre is the old walled garden.

The developers, Mark Kilkenny and Paddy Rooney, intend keeping this garden and as many of the old trees and specimen plants as part of the scheme.

Architects Keenan Lynch included this conservation element in their designs.

The three apartment blocks will be laid out on three sides of the gardens with the period house restored in the centre, along with two mews buildings beside it. The four-storey blocks will have three levels of one and two-bedroom apartments and three penthouses on a fourth floor.

Floor areas range from 54sq m (581sq ft) to 95sq m (1,021sq ft) varying with the position and number of bedrooms of the apartment.

An unusual feature of this scheme is an interior design service to buyers. Geoff Stokes and Deirdre Whelan of Dublin restaurants Unicorn and Bang, and soon to be opened Residence at 41 St Stephen's Green, have designed a choice of kitchens and joinery, one a streamlined contemporary look and one more traditional, with hand-painted finishes.

These will be fitted out in the original Regency house in the centre of the site where clients can go to view and discuss their options.

A further option is an extra fit-out package put together by interior designer Pia Bang in conjunction with Kensington Homes Ltd which will include a complete look and furnishings from her interior shop epitomising a coolly elegant Danish style to kit out the chosen apartment.