Designed in the days of the Tiger, now for sale at half the price

DUNDRUM: €3.5M:The only thing small about a super automated modern house behind a period façade is its utility bills

A TWO-STOREY over basement property in Dundrum pays homage to the last days of the Celtic Tiger, when MTVs Cribs still drove the more-is-more design diktat. The owners have moved with the times and almost halved its big ticket price.

Pirton House, 4 Sydenham Villas, is for sale by private treaty for €3.5 million through agent Douglas Newman Good. This is down from €5.5 million in November 2007.

This vast 418sq m (4,500sq ft) house in the corner of a quiet cul-de-sac at the Dundrum end of Taney Road is the ultimate toy for any boys who still have big bank accounts. Pirton is a modern home on the site of an original Victorian double bay-fronted detached property. The 1853 façade is all that remains of the original house.

Inside, in what was the original part of the house, are two lovely classically proportioned rooms – a masculine study and a diningroom. Both have bay windows and have had original fireplaces cleaned and reinstated.

Crema marfil flooring leads from the hall to the back of the house where a spacious lounge, also with bay window, has a picture frame that rolls up to reveal a large plasma TV. The teak-domed conservatory to the rear has a trompe l'oeildesigned by Don Knox.

A super-sized square kitchen with pale oak units and black granite worktops runs the depth of the house. There’s a Viking fridge and Mercury hob as well as myriad other high-end appliances.

It is light-filled and the dining area overlooks a decked garden, where bamboo and a mature cherry blossom add colour – as does the electronically-heated hot tub.

Upstairs are four spacious bedrooms, each with automated curtains and its own en suite. The main bedroom has its own dressingroom and an en suite that has a Jacuzzi and a built-in TV screen. There’s a second TV in the state-of-the-art double shower.

A sun terrace links the main and the other back bedroom. It is an outside space where adults can come to escape family mayhem and quietly read the papers.

The house is a technological showcase verging on the blingtastic. A home automations system by Crestron looks after heating, lighting, security and audio – every room is wired for sound.

There is an integrated vacuum system. The reproduction cornicing throughout is uplit and can change colour depending on your mood. A geo-thermal system operates the underfloor heating in the house and in addition there are four solar panels which heat the water. The only thing small about this house is its utility bills.

A mahogany balustrade and stairs takes you down to the excavated basement which has its own sound-proofed cinema room, complete with 138in screen and Savoy-style ruby red curtains trimmed with gold fringing. At the other end is a stainless steel-riveted bar with DMX colour changing lights. There is also a small office.

There is off-street parking for two cars. The house backs onto the Luas (which starts at 5.30am, Monday-Friday). Next to the house is a building site where there is permission for three more detached homes. The silver lining is that the developers are including a pedestrian gate with access to the Balally Luas stop and Dundrum Town Centre.

Pirton House, 4 Sydenham Villas, Dundrum, D14

Modern house on site of original Victorian is full of automated high tech systems

Agent:Douglas Newman Good