Art Deco gem inspired by Finnish architect’s work in Foxrock for €1.995m – The Irish Times

Aghanloo is an architectural gem nestled on a third of an acre of land in Foxrock, south Dublin. You can’t miss it – look for its striking façade, with eight vertical strips of opaque glass bricks running along the frontage.

This five-bedroom detached house is one of only two art deco houses built on Kill Lane in 1947 by architect Anthony Johnson, and influenced by the work of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen in the 1920s. The clean lines, The glossy white exterior, high ceilings and wide windows are classic features of the style, which aims to create a clean design aesthetic and bring in plenty of natural light.

The current owners purchased Aghanloo in 1987 and have a framed color copy of Johnson’s original architectural drawings displayed in the living room. In 2006 they carried out a huge renovation, adding a kitchen/breakfast room extension downstairs and a master bedroom upstairs, greatly extending the living space and carefully finishing it to blending perfectly into the general design of the time. The result is a stunning, bright 250m² (2,690sq ft), Ber exempt home, in pristine condition and for sale through Janet Carroll Estate Agents, for €1.995 million.

Inside, the Art Deco style is combined with older period features such as ceiling mouldings, central rosettes, chandeliers and decorative fireplaces. It works and the owners have installed antique furniture that adds elegance to the overall decor. The Art Deco advantage is evident in the huge living room, which has a window that runs almost eight metres across its width.

The kitchen/breakfast room has a large window to the rear and double doors leading out onto a huge raised terrace spanning the width of the house, measuring 69 sq m, with composite flooring and glass panels. It’s the perfect spot for barbecues and outdoor parties, and it’s no surprise to learn that the house has attracted many get-togethers over the years.

The kitchen/breakfast room features wall and floor units, granite worktops, an island with storage presses, a Rangemaster gas hob and double oven. One wall also features the home’s signature glass brick strips, adding an extra dimension to the design.

A home office located to the front has a dual aspect and could also be used as a TV room/den. The dining room has two windows facing the front and is spacious enough for a large dinner party. A cloakroom, laundry room and guest toilet complete the ground floor space.

The stairs have a concrete banister reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa and lead to five large double bedrooms, with ceiling heights of almost three metres adding to the space. The master bedroom has oak flooring, ample storage and a double aspect to the rear garden, with very large windows. The master bedroom en suite is a full bathroom comprising a roll top bath with shower over, his and hers basins and a walk-in shower cubicle. Both this and the main family bathroom feature three vertical bands of opaque glass blocks, ensuring both natural light and privacy. The second bedroom, located to the rear, has an en suite shower room.

There is ample parking space for several cars to the front, and the south-east facing rear garden extends 28m beyond the decked patio, with a width of 18m, and benefits from sunshine for most of the day. Last year the owners obtained planning permission for a 135 sq m bungalow neatly tucked away at the back of the garden, with its own separate access from Kill Lane, which a potential owner might wish to build.