97B Highfield park, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Asking worth: €1.195m
Agent: Borgman Earls Property Consultants (01) 662 5931
Sierra Leone shortly grew to become a no-go zone when the civil warfare broke on the market in 1991. The last decade-long battle started as a revolt towards a longstanding dictatorship however the wealth that got here from diamonds was additionally instrumental in heightening and sustaining tensions within the nation.
On the time, Susan and Klaus Rubesamen had been residing there with their younger household. The couple met years beforehand in Africa when she was doing voluntary work for Concern and Klaus was working for a German engineering firm.
Dwelling in difficult circumstances was nothing new for them, but it surely was clear that the scenario in Sierra Leone was deteriorating shortly so with kids to contemplate, the one secure factor to do was to go away the nation.
“It was an enormous change, however we couldn’t keep there any longer as a result of the scenario was changing into extraordinarily troublesome,” recollects Susan.
At such brief discover, Susan and Klaus determined that Dublin could be the very best place to deliver their household.
The transfer was fairly excessive, going from a war-torn nation to a settled suburb in Dublin, however they by no means regarded again.
The glossy kitchen with a breakfast counter and Miele and Gaggenau home equipment
They moved right into a home in Dundrum and the children began college within the space and so started a brand new chapter of their lives.
Years glided by, with the household having fun with the proximity to colleges, universities, the village and eating places within the south county Dublin suburb, till ultimately the youngsters grew up and left dwelling.
A main bedroom with ensuite rest room
At this level, Susan and Klaus started to consider shifting on themselves.
“We first thought of shifting in 2005 as a result of we had been rattling round a six-bedroomed home. We had been downsizing, however we didn’t need to depart the realm.
“The home we had, had a really giant web site that was really two plots, so it meant it was straightforward sufficient to get planning permission for a second home. Our unique home is now behind this one.”
Niall Brennan Architects had been employed to work with Klaus on the mission, with Susan admitting she had “no involvement by any means” and left it as much as her husband and the architects to plan the design.
“I used to be working full-time whereas the entire thing was occurring and it grew to become a mission that my husband was engaged on. I left him to it. I didn’t get entangled at this stage. I believed when the home was completed that I might put my stamp on it.”
As an engineer, Klaus was filled with concepts for a brand new dwelling that will be vitality environment friendly and extra manageable in measurement.
One of many reception rooms
“He was forward of his time when it got here to vitality effectivity. I bear in mind the contractor saying to Klaus that the warmth pump wouldn’t work, that we would want a back-up of oil or fuel. Klaus stated to him that if the system can warmth a home in Sweden at -40C, then it should work for us,” laughs Susan, recalling her husband’s large ardour for the mission.
Clearly Klaus was forward of his time in aesthetics too, as a result of the end result was a up to date three-bed indifferent home that hasn’t aged because it was in-built 2007. Set behind electrical gates, 97B Highfield Park has full privateness from the skin world, but is just minutes away from the bustle of Dundrum Village.
The very first thing that hits you as you stroll into the 1,938 sq ft is how brilliant it’s. The glass atrium upstairs permits the sunshine to spill down the galleried touchdown into the residing areas under.
Clear strains, a glass-fronted staircase and tiled flooring set the tone for the fresh-looking interiors in the home. Based on Susan, Klaus was concerned in each resolution made concerning the construct, from begin to end.
“He was so keen about it, particularly the kitchen that got here from Germany. All of the Miele home equipment got here from Germany too.
“He knew precisely what he needed. If he had a second profession, he would have needed to be an architect.”
The hallway with a built-in bookcase beneath the staircase
The massive hallway has been put to good use with the set up of function fitted bookcases beneath the steps maintaining muddle out of the opposite rooms.
The lounge has two separate seating areas — one in entrance of the fireplace and one other within the TV zone across the nook. There are doorways out to the backyard and patio space from right here. The Poggenpohl kitchen is white and glossy and incorporates Miele and Gaggenau home equipment. The conservatory-style eating space overlooks the backyard.
A big utility room and downstairs rest room full the lodging on the primary ground.
Upstairs off the touchdown are three double bedrooms, all with built-in wardrobes. The main bedroom has an ensuite rest room with energy bathe and the primary rest room has a shower with built-in bathe.
Due to Klaus’s forward-thinking, The home at 97B has a B vitality score and is powered by a Thermia warmth pump with underfloor heating all through.
Though it’s the second home on the location, there was no compromise on the subject of backyard house.
The outside of 97B Highfield Park, Dundrum
The entrance of the home has been paved and has parking for 3 automobiles. The south-facing again backyard is lawned and bordered with mature bushes and planting.
Sadly Klaus died 10 years in the past, and Susan feels it’s time for her to maneuver on from his dream dwelling.
“I’ve been 10 years speaking about downsizing as a result of I’m often by myself in the home, so I simply determined that it’s time to go now. It’s crying out for a household. I don’t want the house anymore.”
The truth that the home is inside strolling distance to Dundrum, Milltown and the Luas at Windy Arbour will enchantment to a household with kids in native faculties.
For Susan, it is going to be exhausting to stroll away from the home that Klaus constructed however she is prepared for the subsequent chapter and hopes one other household will love the home as a lot as they did. “I liked it from the start as a result of it’s such a light-filled home. Brightness and light-weight are so essential to me. I’ll miss it after I depart.”
The Borgman Earls property company seeks €1.195m.