Known to locals as the Blue House, Verona is a wonderful puzzle. It’s wonderful both because of its location on Dalkey’s Ulverton Road, with sea views across Bullock Harbour, and because of its architectural pedigree.
The house, which is for sale through Knight Frank at a guide of €850,000, was the work of Irish modernist pioneer John O'Gorman who was known for his "uncompromising enthusiasm" for the new architectural style.
That said, he built little during his lifetime, and Verona, which he designed for himself, was his labour of love.
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So why is it a puzzle? Built on a sloping site, and at 141sq m (1,517sq ft), Verona is tall and designed like Italian tower houses, to which its name alludes. You come in on the middle of the three floors (there is parking in a garage accessed from the road below), to find a livingroom and the fourth bedroom, which could also be a study/en suite.
Downstairs is the kitchen, scullery and another room. This floor is begging to be reconfigured to take advantage of the suntrap patio. The heating also needs to be upgraded too.
Some elements of the house are listed, so the new owners won’t be able to change everything, although work does need to be done. This is a good thing, as the charm of the house is in its 1940s detailing and is worth preserving.
Hidden gem
Another puzzle is at the top, where there are three bedrooms – two double, one singles – and a bathroom. But go up a ladder and through a trap door, and you find the house’s hidden gem: a flat roof, with a high parapet, which could be turned into a terrace with wonderful views.
But how would you create the space for a staircase to access this? Lose a bedroom? Find a spot for a spiral stairs? This is for an architect to answer, which is only fitting, seeing as it’s an architect’s very own dream home.
