A large modern classic with endless possibilities

Minane Bridge, South Cork - €535,000

Size: 288 sq m (3,100 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4

BER: B1

Tommy Barker views a home that’s right up to the minute, and which has been built in a way that’ll

constructed in materials and style that’ll stand the test of time

THERE’S a handful of well-designed, contemporary one-off homes scattered along the pleasant rural roads out of Carrigaline, towards Minane Bridge, Tracton, and the south Cork coastline. As you pass by, you’ll tend to admire them for the way a modern design can look at ease in traditional country, whensufficiently well conceived.

That’s the case in this instance, at Granig, Minane Bridge, where a c. five-year old 3,100 sq ft detached home looks confident in its rural setting, on its own full one-acre site set amid fields of pasture and golden crop tillage.

Newly up for sale and guided at €535,000 by selling agent Michael Pigott in nearby Carrigaline, it’s a fully-formed and finished entity, ready for a new family of occupants of almost any size, and, with a host of features (think of the handiness of a laundry chute) which are only still slowly making their way into the residential market mainstream.

Most notable is the geothermal heating system laid across the land, which is highly effective and cost-efficient, with constant pressure hot water.

The architect-designed house — designed by Mark Salter in Kinsale — also gains from its glazing and aspect, with serious solar gain from the southwest aspected main rooms, tall stairs/landing window and kitchen/dining section. There’s also a sit-out patio with Liscannor stone wall and paving, plus deck sections, to maximise the weather that the country has been luxuriating in of late.

It was built on land associated with the current family occupants, who are now relocating up the country for work and other family reasons, hence its sale, and it has its own services on site, such as a deep bore well, and a Biocycle treatment system.

Apart from the sheer amount of living space within, giving a great and adaptable mix of bedrooms and living accommodation, there’s also a detached 700 sq ft garage, convertable to other higher end use (gym, studio, home office etc) suggests Mr Pigott, and the property also includes a dog run.

The site’s boundaries are by made up of mature hedging, backed up by post and rail fencing, with chain-link fence, plus there are electric access gates to the main road, within Liscannor stone pillars.

It’s about three miles from Carrigaline and a 10-15 minute spin to the range of beaches past Tracton, such as Oysterhaven, Nohoval, Rocky Bay, and Ringabella, and it’s this sort of lifestyle offer — a big, comfortable and well-styled home — that may well broaden its appeal beyond the strong trader-up market of Carrigaline, to entice viewers from the city and possibly even further afield.

It’s built of traditional masonry, done by the well-regarded MMD Construction. As well as its high build quality, there’s also excellent finishes says its agent Mr Pigott.

Despite the slow summer lull and torpor from the heat, he had at least a half a dozen requests for viewings build up

this past week, and he bills it as a “a stunning detached residence, combining bright and well-appointed living space, perfect for entertaining and for family life, with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.”

Interior accommodation includes a bright hall, open-tread solid wood staircase with glass balusters, living room with wood stove, an open plan kitchen/ dining/family room which opens to a high-ceilinged sun room, and with patio access.

There’s also a ground floor en-suite bedroom, right of the hall, plus a separate guest WC, utility/mud room, with access to rear garden via French double doors, two spacious double bedrooms (each with en suite) three other spacious bedrooms, family bathroom, large hot press, study, WC, and large utility room off the kitchen.