High hopes for this dwelling which is a cut above the rest

YOU wind your way up to Silverlands, a 1970s style detached family home, up above the Tivoli dual carriageway heading east from Cork city.

Sat, 30 Nov, 2002 - 00:00

The house is set up above the roadway, and reached from a lay-by access serving about four houses and then via a winding S-shaped serpentine drive.

It is a bright and spacious home with large windows, a southern aspect and large site. Once upgraded and modernised a bit more, it will continue to give good domestic service for decades to come.

The house has part cedar cladding on the front facade, a timber very much back in vogue with contemporary architects and enjoying a new burst of fashion consciousness.

Many of cedar's modern devotees are scarcely aware they are part of a retro movement older architectural heads might choose to enlighten them of the 1970s dictate: "if in doubt, use cedar."

Silverlands is on the market with TJ Cronin of Irish and European estate agents, who gives it a €310,000 price guide, and says it is handily located to get in and out of Cork city, a couple of miles away. The Lee tunnel is also just a mile or so away, opening up another commuting axis.

The house, which he says "incorporates many features which were ahead of its day," now probably needs to play a bit of catch-up, and new owners will factor this into their overall budget for this detached housing close to the city.

Above the entrance porch is a front balcony for the Lee river views and a bedroom leads off the balcony. There is one ground-floor bedroom, four first-floor bedrooms (two overlooking the balcony) and two bathrooms.

Living accommodation includes a large sitting room with marble fireplace; a dining room with wood floor and access to the kitchen which is mid-sized at 15' by 8'; and a large back kitchen/utility, with further storage room, and an adjoining garage.

The site is a good size, about half an acre, but it is steep. To make use of the grounds, previous occupants have had them extensively landscaped, including a split level lawn.