Barracka’s Pentagon

A house of many sides, literally, Tommy Barker enthuses about this unique, south city dote

HAS the market finally turned a corner? Increasingly over the last few months, a trickle of commentators and property market observers has started reporting a pick-up in activity, and some price stabilisation.

But, even if the market hasn’t fully turned a corner, here’s a house that will have buyers doing just that, inside and out; near Barrack Street, it’s got as many corners as an old 50p coin.

New to market is this eye-catching, small city home with not one, but two street addresses: it’s both 52 Ardfallen Terrace, and No 52 Friar Street, thanks to its peculiar corner setting.

Dating back a century or so, the renovated old brick artisan townhouse is just above Evergreen Road in the very old heart of Cork city’s southside, a five minute walk from the Grand Parade.

And, the views back to the city from its many first floor windows “are pure Cork,” enthuses auctioneer Mark Gosling, of Jeremy Murphy & Associates, as he peers out at classic inner city streetscapes, and distant rooftop and steeple vistas.

Ardfallen Terrace is a small city gem, home to about ten houses just off curving Friar Street as its wends its way out to Friar’s Walk, with a settled, almost backwater feel.

This corner home (facing another odd but differently shaped dwelling across the terrace entrance,) has its front door away from the street outside, making it a quiet way in, and for privacy all of the windows have been covered with a reflective foil which means that passers-by can’t gape or peer in, an effective guard by day and by night, with only a small loss of light internally as a result.

As you might expect, rooms inside have some odd shapes— do they what? The kitchen goes around the bend at ground level, with three windows to the street and across the cream-tiled hall is a sitting room, and behind that is a dining room/utility.

The whole house was done up in 2006, so it’s fairly fresh, though it needs an injection of personality after a neutralising decor job during its rented-out life.

But, some colour, some art, bookshelves, (and there’s no shortage of walls!), quirky furniture and a bit of extra spending will make this house very much a home to snuggle into.

As a bonus, there’s a 250 sq ft rear yard, paved with sandstone and fringed by 10’ high stone and brick walls, with a door to Friar Street as a second access option, ideal for bikes, bins and buggies.

A good eye could make this a rocking outdoor space, for very little extra spending.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, two either very small doubles or good singles, while the third apes the shape of the kitchen below, with an extra twist. There’s only a few options for a decent-sized bed, but it’s fun-sized and shaped, with great views.

Thanks to the 2006 investment, it’s all in good order (thought the back wall could do with re-pointing), it’s been dry-lined, has gas central heating, the kitchen’s pretty good, as is the first floor bathroom, and the walls are freshly painted up in creams and whites.

Although the ‘front’ room is a bit of an around-the-corner room, it’s a nice spot with fireplace apparently covered over, so opening it up might be an option too — it’s the sort of house you just want to get your hands on, get to work on, and funk it all up.

VERDICT: A tonic for the New Year, not your boring square-shaped house, the setting’s super-handy, and the yard and side access is a boon, so very much time to think outside the box.