Awarded the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland's Triennial Housing Medal for 1971-73, this detached home designed by renowned architect Ronald Tallon is an exceptional home as well as an outstanding contribution to architecture in Ireland. It is nestled on just under two acres of mature grounds adjacent to the fairways of Foxrock Golf Club.
Enjoying a mature setting more akin to a week-end retreat than a suburban family home, Tallon House is without doubt a truly unique property. This simple steel and glass house was designed as a single-span structure, giving clear uninterrupted internal spaces. The entire original house is glazed to the north and south with continuous full height sliding glass panels, set back from the steel frame to create a continuous timber terrace on both sides of the house. The view to the north is over the golf course and south view is to the Dublin mountains. Elegantly raised above the ground, the interior spaces seem very much part of the landscape, the iroko decks gently connecting the terraces to the lawns. The original house has been twice extended with individual extensions at the ends, stepped back from the original facades, so that, both visually and conceptually, the original house remains perfectly intact. The first extension consisted of an en-suite dressing room and bathroom added to the bedrooms at both ends and later a studio was added to the west gable of the house which opened up the west garden to view. The new studio follows the original detail of the house in all respects, with iroko terrace and sliding aluminium-framed windows.
The raised platform entrance terrace, with two sets of floating steps is flanked by two specimen trees: a Perrotia Persica and a Magnolia tree that set the perfect tone for this design centric home.
Ironically whilst the design parameters of this house are simple and contemporary, they are inspired by the traditional farmhouse where you enter into the living part of the home and retire to the bedrooms at either end. The different rooms are not traditionally marked, instead internal partitions, which never touch the glass walls provide screening and definition to the various living and sleeping zones, further complimented by side walls of glass running the full length on both sides, creating a plan of surprising simplicity. Full height sliding pocket doors provide privacy when required. The design is linear providing clean lines and an overall serenity, every room having at least one wall of full height glass which makes the unique experience of living in direct contact with its exceptional garden and woodland setting.
Internal furnishings have been carefully chosen: undyed wool carpeting, curtains in natural undyed silk and extensive use of brown oak panelled walls which blend harmoniously and in keeping with the nature of their surroundings. This is without doubt a unique family home blended into its rural setting seamlessly.
OUTSIDE:
The totally private gardens and grounds of Tallon House are every bit as important as the house itself. Originally the site was known as Hurley's Plantation and was in the words of Ronald Tallon himself a two-acre wilderness adjoining the golf course. The overriding theme of the design of Tallon House was to ensure a sense of connection between house and the landscape outside. A tree-lined, gravelled driveway opens up to a large, gravelled turning circle revealing mature trees and a large expanse of lawns, revealing almost to tease, just the gable wall of Tallon House. A set of floating timber steps beckons the visitor to take a closer look. To the southern boundary of the site is a detached garage and separate studio room an ideal contemplative space for daytime reading. To the north is a fern garden and herb deck and brilliant, rhododendrom planting and a copper beech hedge provides the boundary with the golf course. A monumental, aged oak sculpture by internationally renowned sculptor Michael Warren completes the composition.
THE GATE LODGE:
In the early 1980's a separate detached gate lodge was added at the entrance to the grounds. Similar in style to the main house though not raised on piers it is rectangular in design and provides for a living / dining / kitchen area, two bedrooms (main ensuite) and bathroom. This Virginia creeper clad structure delineates the entrance driveway to one side and is mirrored by a mature beech hedge forming the driveway on the other.
LOCATION:
Located right beside Foxrock Golf Club Tallon House is well located in the leafy suburb of Foxrock approximately 12km from Stephen's Green and only a short stroll from Foxrock Village. This quaint village with its selection of popular eateries, restaurants and specialist food shops services this upmarket suburb. For more extensive shopping facilities, Dunnes Stores at Cornelscourt and the Park Retail centre are close by.
An excellent selection of schools are nearby including Hollypark Boys and Girls National School, St Brigid's Boys and Girls National School and many fine South County Dublin's Secondary Schools including Blackrock College, Mount Anville, Loreto Foxrock, Lycee Francais d'Irlande as well as the newly opened Nord Anglia International School and St Andrew's College are a short commute away. School admission policies are subject to change and should be verified.
Cabinteely Park with its 96 acres of parkland and large children's playground is also nearby. Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club is also within easy reach. The Quality Bus Corridor on the N11 provides easy access to Dublin City Centre, the M50 interchange is close by as is the LUAS at Carrickmines and Sandyford.