Emblematic though this impressive property may be of 21st century house design, the ultimate aim of the joint architects was to create a wholly modern family home enjoying the benefits of a highly regarded neighbourhood.

There are echoes of the grand period townhouse evident here too, from the imposing threestorey facade to the high ceilings of the generously proportioned rooms.

Geralyn Byrne, of selling agents Sherry FitzGerald, aptly describes the property as the three storey townhouse, 2006 style, and one that's not only ultra stylish, but very easy to live in too.

"There are lots of living zones in the house, from the more informal family sitting room at ground floor, to echoes of period living in the first floor drawing room that opens on to the terrace."

The architects, (two husband and wife teams) Orla Hegarty and Barry Kelly, and Brian O'Donnell and Nicki Cloonan, put their collective heads together and came up with many attractive extras in the design, including that rather spectacular roof terrace, as mentioned, to the welcoming, open-plan communal kitchen that everyone naturally gravitates toward.

This latter space is one of those echoes of the past, says Orla Hegarty, explaining that while there have been enormous changes in house styles over the decades, the kitchen is still very much the heart of any home.

"We've moved away from the days when a kitchen was a small working room hidden away to the back of a house. In the middle decades of the last century, rooms were generally cut off from one another and very separate; now we've almost gone back to the layout of the traditional Irish cottage where the kitchen was the central space in the house."

Obvious modernity is there in the high spec services, such as underfloor heating, the energy efficient heat recovery ventilation system, central vacuum facility, and wiring for lcd/plasma television and high-speed cat 5 computer network. Among the many 'oneoffs' are the sliding wooden shutters to the front of the property, designed by the architects, and also the Italian-made, bespoke kitchen.

The house is one of only three on this new terrace, recently completed, and extends to some 2,560 sq ft with a west facing rear garden.

Three spacious living areas are spread over two levels. The first of these is the kitchen/dining/family room which overlooks the secluded rear garden.

Also on the ground floor is the large sitting room, a vast utility that functions like an old-style pantry with ample shelving and storage, and guest cloakroom. On the first floor is the drawing room, again with a connection to the outdoors in that it steps onto the westfacing roof terrace.

Two bedrooms, a bathroom and study complete the rooms on this level. Another two bedrooms, both en-suite, are on the second floor, while at the very top of the house is another delight, a large dressing room and bathroom which is spread over the two levels.

This is very much the city home, with close proximity to St Stephen's Green and great local amenities, but the house also includes that must have of modern living . . . an outdoor room.

"The desire for a closer connection to the outdoors is one of the ways that we've changed. Where once people lived in houses with small windows and a garden, if any, now we want our homes to fully overlook and harmonise with that outdoor space. " Here there's the choice of not one, but two outdoor rooms, with the same attention to detail as the house they adjoin, including builtin planters, grass and paving in the garden proper, and overlooking it from above, hardwood decking, lighting and tap. There's even an outdoor fireplace.

They really have thought of everything.

Price: AMV ,2,000,000;

auction 6 April 2006 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald 01-490 7433 Price: AMV ,2,000,000;

auction 6 April 2006 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald 01-490 7433