McKillen strikes again with €2.4m mews on designer Donnybrook lane

It has been a busy year for ODOS Architects – who have expanded their practice to include offices in London and New York.

In the past six months they have scooped a “Fit Out of the Year” award for their project at Slack HQ, “House of the Year” award for Price’s Lane in the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards, and “Home of the Year” accolade for their Grangegorman house on RTÉ’s Home of the Year.

Their latest offering is Morehampton Lane – an infill scheme of four contemporary houses on a site developed by Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan’s’ Oakmount –who were also responsible for 55 Percy Place, The Dean Hotel and One Percy Place.

From the exterior these properties – perched behind high Iroko electric gates – look like modest-sized mews similar to their peers along the lane, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The showhouse, laid out over three storeys, has 247sq m (2,650sq ft) of space, while the other three properties are slightly larger again. These three properties have already sold for just over €2.1 million apiece. Selling agent Susan Turley of Turley Property Advisors is seeking €2.4 million for number 25.

What is striking about the interiors, and in direct contrast to the moody exterior, is the volume of light which radiates internally. The use of walls of glass on the upper landing, full length 6.5m sliding doors in the two living rooms and bedrooms, in addition to an abundance of roof lights allows the house to have complete privacy while maximising natural light.

Add to this an abundance of vertical strip LEDs throughout – in particular in the hallway which soars to 5m – which creates a wonderful night-time ambience.

Flooring throughout is a mixture of oiled white oak set in herringbone in both living rooms and polished poured concrete. The lack of coving and skirting creates a streamlined effect, echoed in the kitchen by Bushell Interiors. The absence of sockets – hidden in pop-up ports along with the extractor fan – and an oven concealed in the pantry lends the kitchen a minimalist feel, enhanced by the Calacatta marble on the giant island and splashback.

The property has four beds – two at garden level and two upstairs. The main bedroom has an en-suite with a double shower the size of many apartment kitchens and a colossal walk-in wardrobe. There is also a terrace to the front and the use of angled Iroko slats ensures privacy.

A further terrace is located off a downstairs bedroom and the back garden – designed by TTT Landscaping – though not large is maintenance free and just minutes from Herbert Park. Further contrasts here are the black acrylic render on the walls against the old granite stone of the original boundary wall.

As one would expect with a house of this calibre technology is state of the art, and the BER rating is A3.

A few doors down Bartra Capital is developing four properties designed by de Blacam and Meagher architects. And while local residents will have to endure a further 10 months of disruption, there is sure to be competition for 2018 architectural awards on this small lane in the heart of Dublin 4.