Unusual gate lodge has great deal of potential

THERE are two ways to go about the reconstruction of a dwelling: first, get your architect, and secondly, get your designer.

With the gate lodge of the former Our Lady’s Hospital on the Lee Road, there has been huge architectural input, but little time spent on the interior design.

And that’s a huge pity as the house is one of the most unusual and interesting to come on the market for a while.

The cut stone building has been gutted and renovated with a large addition at the back, which incorporates a glass block wall, overhead glazing, floor to ceiling windows and a large, light-filled kitchen/dining room. The minute you walk in, there’s a warmth that only two foot thick walls can give - however, the exposed stone and dark staining on the ceiling sheeting, as well as the chestnut flooring is perhaps a little oppressive for today’s tastes.

The new wing is very impressive and an expensive flourish is the curved, ground floor bathroom, which involved a lot of work with natural slate roof and an amount of lead flashing and guttering. Not cheap, which might explain the guide price in excess of €600,000 through Susan Dunlea of Global Properties.

Singles, couples and downsizers are the market for this house and it has a lot of attractions. It overlooks the Lee on what is effectively a quiet country road, but is just minutes to the city. The sandstone and limestone facade of this neo-Gothic beauty is also a draw and the finish is very good outside.

You have two pedestrian entrances and rear car access, with pathways all round and a big, high wall offering privacy at the rear where there’s a lovely, south/south-west garden.

There’s plenty of living space with a fantastic, full south aspect, but it will need more work to bring out its innate sophistication.