Adventurous valley design of Water’s Edge has all angles covered

A LOT done, more to do — remember that? It more or less sums up the sales pitch for Water’s Edge in Kilnacloona, Kinsale, Co Cork, a property that puts the edge into architectural.

This has to be one of the most unusual properties to hit this market in years and it’s not even finished, but nevertheless comes with a guide price of €1.5 million.

So what’s so special about this house? Firstly, the location: the multi-level property sits on a steep valley side on the edge of the Bandon estuary and has long deep views over the water as far as Ballinadee. The precipitous location makes the property even more stunning as the part of the floor is cantilevered out over the sloping site.

This is an ambitious, even adventurous build, and one that has to be seen to understand its architectural origami.

Even now at second fix stage, it’s impressive: fully finished this house will be a complete trophy property and one of the most original not just for miles, but countrywide. It’s a grand design.

Water’s Edge has as its core, two conjoined circles which form the entrance vestibule and main living room while overhead the roof is a projection of two, separate wing-like structures joined in the centre by a large lantern window. The glazing continues under the roof to connect wall and roof plate and allow ambient light to flow throughout this angular property.

And, at the side, two square projections provide bedroom and kitchen space, while underneath, in the dead space between the ground and cantilevered, first floor, are two large rooms.

But it’s the main living room and kitchen that take all the glory of this build.

The living room is a drum-like space with what must be a twenty foot ceiling and it has a balcony projection accessed through French doors, while narrow lights run parallel with this double door section. Seven metres in diameter, the room comes with a high fireplace and the most sweeping views over the estuary.

Next to it, the kitchen is a shell, but is a bright, angular shell that holds all the promise of being a wonderful room. It even has a glazed inner courtyard that was planned to be a herb garden. Surrounded by the walls of the house, and watered by the down pipes, it’s indoors, but outdoor at the same time. An Irish take on the sort of thing you might see in a Moroccan palace.

Down a flight of steps is the house’s engine room with water pump, heating system, (the house has zoned, underfloor heating) and garage doors to a driveway that was planned to circle around the house. Beyond it, is a large room which could become a games rooms, study or even fourth bedroom, as the house has just three, ensuite rooms.

And that makes them sound ordinary, which of course, they’re not, as nothing in this house comes as standard.

The master suite could be said to have the best position of any room in this house. It’s on the western corner of the property and has a corner window which frames the estuary and where it’s planned a jacuzzi bath will go.

The balcony from this room is the largest in the house and it’s tanked and ready to go for a grass roof. The rest of the room comes with another bathroom and a separate dressing room. Access to this suite is to the right of the circular entrance hallway and the remaining two bedrooms are to the left, one facing out over the roadway to the rear and the other with southerly views over the valley.

Light filters through from the courtyard with steps leading down to the kitchen area.

The house is being sold as is, and will need considerable further investment to bring it to completion. It will need to be plastered, doors need to be hung, heating has to be installed fully and the ground finished and landscaped.

That can be a good thing: this final stage is what gives a house its character and anyone buying this property will not be interested in a ‘vanilla’ look.

This is a trophy house, a bold beauty, that demands the right kind of completion.