Big thanks to Greg Stevenson on Facebook and Under The Thatch on Twitter for flagging up this stunning 1930s six-bedroom art deco property in Templeogue Road, Dublin. But it does come with a good amount of notoriety.
The house was built in 1939, but gained that notoriety in 1940 when the house was owned by a 'go-between' between the IRA and the German Nazi regime. Indeed, it was used as a safe house for an SS officer – and when it was raided by the police, the owner was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. The SS man had already departed. You can read the full story from the Irish Times here.
That's all ancient history now, with the house escaping that past and making a name for itself as a stylish example of art deco architecture, with plenty of original features still included – a curved sitting room and master bedroom, a mix of marble and parquet floors, corner windows and tiled mantelpieces for example.
However, there is a downside to this uniqueness. Other essential modernising is still to be done, including re-wiring, and updates to the kitchen and bathrooms. But on the plus side, there's plenty of room, with those six bedrooms, reception hall, inner hall, lounge, dining room, living room, study, kitchen, utility room and a bathroom with separate WC. There's also 1/2 acre of walled secluded gardens with a variety of mature trees, hedging, and lots of off street parking.
If you want it, the asking price is €1,250,000. See the agent's site for lots more images.
Find out more at the DNG website
A most stunning property – wrong country for me !