Huka Lodge, on Lower Churchtown Road was the first project architect Derek Heavey, now a director at RKD Architects, completed.
The round redbrick detached house, which is set on half an acre, was built in 1991. Measuring 363sq m (3,907 sq ft) the house is asking €1.25 million through agents Sherry FitzGerald. The house had an asking price of €2.3 million when it first went to market in 2010, according to Daftdrop.com.
Situated on the edge of Milltown Golf Club it takes its name from the exclusive retreat of the same name, set along the banks of New Zealand’s Waikato river. The decor of the Churchtown house is more golf resort than fishing lodge – fitting given that its dining room commands a view of the 14th green of the parkland course.
0 of 5
Inside, the decor was designed to accommodate the owner’s eclectic art collection. The entrance is via a set of shallow steps to hall level. The master bedroom is to the right and comprises a roomy bathroom with a large bath. There is a separate shower and a double sink.
The master bedroom has dual aspect windows, a box style to the front and a large bowed window to the rear. Almost hidden behind the door is a good-size dressing room.
Signature windows
The cherrywood kitchen has Corian countertops – quite revolutionary when the house was constructed more than 20 years ago. A bow window surveys the garden. There are many signature windows in the house, all are uPVC. A door leads down to a gravelled outdoor area.
The hall’s glazed atrium makes a feature out of the space and leads the eye upwards, to a decorative shelf and a galleried landing featuring black wrought iron railing. The dining room mirrors the kitchen’s bow window and overlooks Milltown Golf Course’s 14th green. Terracotta tiles cover the hall and kitchen floors, and the steps. The internal doors are solid cherrywood.
The sitting room is at mezzanine level. It is a fine area with two right-angled windows bookending the space. A small southwest facing terrace, with views of the tree tops, is a wonderful sun trap.
A half set of steps takes you to a large office or fourth bedroom. It has a large rooflight with golf course views, an en-suite shower room and tonnes of storage built into the eaves.
Low maintenance
At ground level there are two guest bedrooms that share a bathroom. The gardens are laid out in a low-maintenance Japanese style. The ground includes a large pond and decking areas designed to catch the morning and evening sun.
There is direct access from the house into the double garages below. The current owner, a doctor who received a lot of night calls, needed easy access to his garage.
The house is situated off the road, behind a bungalow, Cuala Cottage, also belonging to the vendors. Once the site of the Cuala Press, founded by the Yeats sisters, it is not included in the sale. At present there is no dividing line between it and the front of Huka Lodge.
