If it can heat a house to -40 in Sweden, it works here’: Inside a Dundrum paradise built with German efficiency
97B Highfield park, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Asking price: €1,195m
Agent: Borgman Earls Property Consultants (01) 662 5931
Sierra Leone quickly became a no-go zone when civil war broke out there in 1991. The decade-long conflict began as a revolt against a long-standing dictatorship but the wealth that came from diamonds was also instrumental in increasing and maintaining tensions in the country.
At the time, Susan and Klaus Rubesamen lived there with their young family. The couple met years earlier in Africa when she was volunteering for Concern and Klaus was working for a German engineering company.
Living in challenging circumstances was nothing new to them, but it was clear that the situation in Sierra Leone was deteriorating rapidly so with children to think about, the only safe thing to do was to leave the country.
“It was a huge change, but we couldn’t stay there any longer because the situation was becoming extremely difficult,” recalls Susan.
With such short notice, Susan and Klaus decided that Dublin would be the best place to bring their family.
The move was quite extreme, going from a war-torn country to a settled suburb of Dublin, but they never looked back.
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The elegant kitchen with breakfast bench and Miele and Gaggenau appliances
They moved into a house in Dundrum and the children started school in the area and so began a new chapter in their lives.
Years passed and the family enjoyed the proximity to schools, universities, the village and restaurants in the south county suburb of Dublin, until the children eventually grew up and left home.
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A master bedroom with en-suite bathroom
At this point, Susan and Klaus began to think about moving on themselves.
“We first thought about moving in 2005 because we were rattling around a six-bedroom house. We looked at downsizing, but we didn’t want to leave the area.
“The house we had had a very large lot which was actually two lots, so that meant it was easy enough to get planning permission for a second house. Our original house is now behind this.”
Niall Brennan Architects was hired to work with Klaus on the project, and Susan admitted that she had no involvement whatsoever, leaving it up to her husband and the architects to plan the design.
“I worked full time while it was all going on and it became a project that my husband worked on. I left him to it. I didn’t get involved at this stage. I thought when the house was finished that I would put my stamp on it.”
As an engineer, Klaus was full of ideas for a new home that would be energy efficient and more manageable in size.
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One of the reception rooms
“He was ahead of his time when it came to energy efficiency. I remember the contractor telling Klaus that the heat pump wouldn’t work, that we would need a back-up of oil or gas. Klaus told him that if the system could heat a house in Sweden to -40C, it will work for us,” laughs Susan, recalling her husband’s great passion for the project.
Clearly, Klaus was ahead of his time in aesthetics too, as the result was a modern three-bed detached house that hasn’t aged since it was built in 2007. Set behind electric gates, 97B Highfield Park enjoys complete seclusion from the outside world, yet is minutes from bustling Dundrum Village.
The first thing that strikes you when you walk into the 1,938-square-foot space is how bright it is. The glass atrium upstairs allows light to stream down the landing into the living room below.
Clean lines, a staircase with a glass front and tiled floors set the tone for the house’s fresh interior. According to Susan, Klaus was involved in every decision made about the construction, from start to finish.
“He was so passionate about it, especially the cuisine that came from Germany. All Miele appliances also came from Germany.
“He knew exactly what he wanted. If he had a second career, he would have wanted to be an architect.”
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Hall with built-in bookshelf under the stairs
The main hallway has been put to good use with the installation of functional fitted bookcases under the stairs which keep clutter away from the other rooms.
The living room has two separate seating areas — one in front of the fireplace and another in the TV area around the corner. From here there are doors out to the garden and patio. Poggenpohl’s kitchen is white and elegant and contains Miele and Gaggenau appliances. The conservatory-style dining room overlooks the garden.
A large utility room and bathroom downstairs complete the accommodation on the first floor.
Upstairs from the landing are three double bedrooms, all with fitted wardrobes. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with a power shower and the master bathroom has a bath with built-in shower.
Thanks to Klaus’ foresight, the house at 97B has energy class B and is powered by a Thermia heat pump with underfloor heating.
Although it is the second house on the site, no compromises have been made when it comes to garden space.
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The exterior of 97B Highfield Park, Dundrum
The front of the house has been paved and has parking for three cars. The south facing rear garden is laid to lawn and bordered by mature trees and planting.
Unfortunately, Klaus died 10 years ago, and Susan feels it’s time for her to move on from her dream home.
“I’ve been talking about downsizing for ten years because I’m usually alone in the house, so I decided now is the time to go. It calls out for a family. I don’t need the space anymore.”
The fact that the house is within walking distance to Dundrum, Milltown and the Luas at Windy Arbor will appeal to a family with children in local schools.
For Susan, it will be hard to walk away from the house that Klaus built, but she is ready for the next chapter and hopes that another family will love the house as much as they did. “I loved it from the start because it’s such a bright house. Brightness and light are so important to me. I’ll miss that when I go.”
The real estate agency Borgman Earls is seeking EUR 1,195 million.
