Douglas House sets new standards

Tommy Barker visits an upmarket scheme of townhouses and apartments which raises the bar in terms of landscaping and design.

A FEW dozen were sold back in September when this place was still a bit of a building site, but with show units opening from next week, the remaining bunch are expected to fly through sales.

It is Douglas House, of course, a top-notch residential scheme on Maryborough Hill, which fairly pitches itself as the best landscaped development in Cork.

This spring will bring on the proof of that assertion, while the three show units fitted out by designer Stephen Dunne and just finished this weekend put the best possible face on the apartments on offer in this benchmarking Bride View Development scheme.

All the townhouses have already sold, and the apartments in the reconfigured period Douglas House have all but been taken up too: just two remain to sell, at €695,000 and with about 1,100 sq ft each, according to selling agent Tom O'Keeffe, a director of Bride View, selling jointly with Thomas J O'Driscoll auctioneers.

The first block, by the electronically controlled entrance gates, is also sold and is being occupied, and the rear, crescent-shaped buildings over basement parking areas have units left at €320,000 for a 560 sq ft one-bed, and two-beds of up to 1,170 sq ft sell from €410,000/€440,000.

Design is by Donal F O'Donovan engineers, and landscaping for the scheme was done by Cameron Kiernan. Finishes include Liscannor stone, cedar sheeting, pressed steel balconies, render and copper-style roofing, and apartments have carpeted bedrooms, quality wood floors, high-spec bathrooms and fitted kitchens, along with integrated appliances and granite worktops. External landscaping had as much thought applied, sets new levels for the Cork market and has wending pathways, water features and fountains, pergolas, seating and subtle contemporary lighting.

"This is very much our flagship development," says Bride View MD Declan O'Mahony. "We have already facilitated visits from European landscape designers."