Contemporary rural classic in Cork offers scope to potential buyers

Kya deLongchamps is impressed by White Lodge which offers scope to a variety of prospective buyers.

Fri, 11 Oct, 2019 - 15:00

Kya deLongchamps is impressed by White Lodge which offers scope to a variety of prospective buyers.

Pictures: John Finn & Adrianna Hegarty

Good looks, state-of-the-art energy efficiency, jaw-dropping rural views, and a 15-minute spin from Cork don’t come served any better than this. Brought to market by Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties, there’s a lot to unpack here in terms of sheer quality, detail, features, and an all-but-perfect commutable location.

Taking in both the convenience of Carrigtwohill and the multiple pleasures of the heritage town of Midleton, White Lodge in Ballyrichard Beg could play the practical, bustling family home, or equally suit single professionals or retirees who have escape and entertaining in mind, shielded from the city’s roar.

The easy putt to Curragh Woods and two superb golf courses, at Water Rock and East Cork, will tee up a lot of interest. And, speaking of Water Rock, there is a new commuter station on track for the Cobh/Midleton line in the recently released transport plan for Cork.

Built to an extremely high spec — taking in the latest in construction fabrics, build techniques, and economic contemporary technologies — the two-storey, block-build channels the exterior elevations of a large vernacular Irish farmhouse refined by an architect’s eye.

With white-rendered surfaces, simple volumes, and window shapes, it sits easily in the landscape, rooted in place with the use of stacked Liscannor hand-cut stone.

The home includes PVC tilt and turn, and triple-glazed windows. With a tight build, MVHR is delivered effectively with a Vent-Axia air-handling unit operating throughout the home.

The entrance hall is clean and spare, with a Nordic white to the walls, and finished in a sophisticated (edge-to-edge) large format, rectified porcelain tile, served by a geothermal heat pump and UFH.

Downstairs, accommodation includes a choice of a generous sitting-room leading to the garden, plus a vast kitchen/diner/living area anchored on a white gloss kitchen with a feature island.

This open-plan arrangement escorts us to a south-facing patio through sliding doors.

The bullet-proof porcelain flooring is run right through to the utility room which takes domestic drudgery effectively out of sight and includes a useful back door for mud-splattered kids and dogs.

All the top-spec integrated kitchen appliances are included in the sale.

Upstairs, all the bedrooms have a front aspect, the master showing its hierarchy with a balcony overlooking the infinity views across unspoiled farmland, and including an en-suite with a walk-in shower. The other two bedrooms are doubles.

White Lodge boasts an excellent, layered lighting design throughout which includes dimmers and clever illumination play for function and atmosphere — well thought through from the start.

Take note: There’s a large fully-floored attic space with lighting, power points and Stira stairs. — do we have to say pulsing potential?

Beyond the house itself, White Lodge hosts tantalising recreational elements set over 0.4 acres encompassing landscaped gardens and gravelled courtyards which accommodate parking and panoramic views from the patio/barbecue area.

The sale includes a gate lodge with generous annexe space, a workshop with a car-wash area (outside tap and external electrical sockets fitted) and a spa-like relaxation room/wellness log cabin with a period rolltop bath and snug triple glazing.

This property is not fussy, it’s not even flashy — but White Lodge is a quiet, elegant, triumph of rural modernity. Considering all its talents, low bills, position, extras, and ease of maintenance, we don’t expect it to linger.

VERDICT: Splendid finish, style, energy-efficiency, and location.