The original premises of the renowned Wellington Eye Clinic in Ballsbridge, Dublin, has been transformed into two luxury homes, one of which goes for sale on Wednesday at €2.75 million.
It is hitting the market at a good time for the vendors, with property prices confirmed to have passed the Celtic tiger peak last week.
The Wellington 2A is a 250 sq m, three-bedroom home that combines contemporary design with conservation architecture. Features include a dramatic double-height entryway with a poured concrete staircase, and a 7m-long terracotta coloured island in Dekton by Cosentino, which extends from the kitchen out into the courtyard.
The spacious room proportions, the level of modernisation and sought-after location will attract buyers at the upper end of the market in Dublin, according to Simon Ensor, a director at Sherry FitzGerald estate agency.
“What’s significant is that it is in excellent condition, as the planning process is so protracted, and there is the uncertainty as to what the extension and renovation of a property like this would end up costing,” Ensor says. “We have a two-tiered market at the moment. Properties that need to be refurbished are tricky enough, and those in turnkey condition, which are few and far between, are the ones creating competitive interest.”
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The property is furnished by Design Emporium and is close to the city and the amenities of Ballsbridge, such as Herbert Park.
“This will appeal to people trading down within the area, perhaps from Wellington Road itself, Ailesbury Road, Herbert Park and Pembroke Park,” Ensor says.
“It will also appeal to those in the luxury apartment market, or those who may have a very fine second home abroad, typically in Spain or Portugal. To be able to have a really lovely home here that is incredibly low maintenance is a huge appeal — they can shut the front door and head off, knowing they won’t come back to any issues or an overgrown garden.”
Dr Frank Lavery, an ophthalmologist, lives in the Wellington 2B, on Wellington Road, and employed Third Mind Design to renovate both properties over the past four years. The design agency is run by Max and Emily Fedorov, who describe this as a once-in-a-lifetime project.
“Splitting the original eye clinic into two sites was a no-brainer. Due to the size and scale of the site, it would allow for very large and spacious homes, which is unusual for such a sought-after residential area with such close proximity to the city centre,” Max Federov says. “It is so rare to receive a brief like this, to design a luxury residence, and to see it through.”
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The renovation included the conservation of an original coach house structure, with sash windows and a traditional stone wall.
