Bond-style house with indoor pool and views to live and let die for in Howth for €3m

Time is always on the side of quality in design. Consider Sandpiper on Windgate Road in Howth, a modernist masterpiece in the James Bond style that would have been considered a rule-breaker when it was built, possibly before it was put up for sale in the late 1980s.

Its initial owner was a female architect from the UK, whose vision for the 0.7-hectare (1.8-acre) property on Windgate Road was to maximize views of the sea. Little is known about her.

With expansive views of the sea that include Lambay Island, Ireland’s Eye, and a great deal of water, you can see all the way up to the Mourne mountains on a clear day.

After that, the late owner bought it in 1988 for use as his personal hideaway. In 2003, it was expanded to provide a pretty opulent gathering area. This time of year, if you couldn’t bear the thought of getting frostbite from swimming in the sea, Sandpiper offers heated indoor pools complete with a steam room, shower, and elegant pool bar for socializing with friends.

The room is a fantastic place to call home because it opens up to a wraparound patio with countless gathering options. The location has a hint of the 2013 movie Wolf of Wall Street parties, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as a fast-living stockbroker; nevertheless, it’s also a place to stay in shape every day, no matter the weather.

[Traditional five-bed near Seapoint beach available for €3.995 million]

Kitchen

Between 2014 and 2019, the entire property underwent renovations. Among the changes made was the installation of an amazing picture window in the dining room, which beautifully captures the image of Lambay Island, which seems to float in the Irish Sea.

The unusual single-story home, which is a sizeable 504 square meters (5,425 square feet), is split into four sections: a swimming pool area, living and eating areas, bedrooms, and a covered garage that can accommodate one special vehicle. There is also enough of space outside for an endless number of cars.

Large kitchen and living area with various high-gloss Kube Interiors wall and floor units are off a central hallway that also leads to the bedrooms and garage. This area provides access to the dining area, the 8-meter swimming pool area, and a courtyard that leads to the front patio. The large living area next door makes the most of the sea views with floor to ceiling windows.

[ €495,000 for a small gem in Dundrum’s Victoria Terrace]

Because of the floor to ceiling glazing and its good Ber of B3, which is remarkable given its age and all that glass, the property has a plenty of natural light. During the last ten years, when the house underwent a complete renovation, a new air-to-water heat pump was installed.

A luxurious family bathroom is located in the same area as four double bedrooms, two of which have en suite bathrooms and one of which serves as an office. The primary, as one might anticipate, offers stunning views of the sea, an en suite bathroom, and a sizable custom walk-in wardrobe that rivals any five-star hotel in size. Additionally, this area opens up to the front patio made of Indian sandstone.

Similar to the home, the grounds are immaculate and have been painstakingly manicured with plants that can withstand the sea. Mature leylandii hedge surrounds the property in a privacy frame, providing cover for the abundance of heathers and herbaceous borders. The plot, which is slightly under 0.8 hectares (2 acres), is large enough to accommodate a tennis court and additional house, subject to obtaining planning approval.

Honestly, you would probably want to live alone in this place, so party noise would never be a problem. Though it seems like you’re miles away from everything on Windgate Road in terms of shopping, you’re actually only a kilometer away from a pint of milk and all the delicious seafood that Howth, a coastal jewel, has to offer.

Sandpiper is currently for sale through Knight Frank, asking €3 million. It is in outstanding condition.