Whats New

Launch of Live-Work Suites in Dublin City & Suburbs

The affordable and practical solution to living and working in urban areas

A new trend emerging in Irish society is the growing popularity of living and working in the same building.  Figures from the 2006 Census of Population show a 52 per cent increase in the number of people working mainly at or from home in Dublin City and County in the four years since the previous census in 2002.  Purpose-built Live-Work suites are a new concept devised to satisfy this market demand.

Hooke & MacDonald specialises in the sale of new homes and Live-Work suites and are now releasing for sale a selection of these units in four developments around Dublin, in Dublin Docklands, Inchicore, South Circular Road and Sandyford.

Live-Work suites are increasingly becoming a feature of new residential developments throughout urban areas, particularly in Dublin, combining the advantages of both office and residential accommodation.

While Live-Work suites are relatively new to Ireland, they have proved to be a success in cities across the UK and continental Europe.  These properties essentially consist of a dedicated work space along with a segregated area for living accommodation all within a self-contained unit.  Most Live-Work units are situated within new apartment developments that are in close proximity to major centres of employment.

Live-Work suites are distinctly different from apartments with a study that facilitates working from home.  Instead, the work space provides for a much higher intensity of uses and is intended to facilitate the operation of a stand alone office enterprise, accommodating additional employees that do not live in the property and visits from clients to the office.

Unlike normal home working, where family and/or personal life often intrudes on the workspace, the living and working areas of Live-Work suites are generally physically separated and this therefore minimises any potential disruptions.

Live-Work suites are becoming a popular alternative form of city living.  They are a particularly attractive option for those starting up a new business and whose budgets may not stretch to the purchase of both home and business premises.  At a much broader level, the live-work concept promotes more sustainable land-use objectives, creates new employment opportunities and reduces the need for commuting.

Advances in telecommunications and information technology are facilitating the development of new enterprises with smaller space requirements.  This combined with the substantial financial benefits of living and working from a single premises is resulting in Live-Work units appealing to a growing number of people.

Typically those attracted to the live-work lifestyle are entrepreneurs operating small professional companies in the areas of information and computer technology, business consultancy, marketing, public relations, data processing, graphic design, publishing, news media, film production, architecture, accountancy, and legal and medical practices.  They are ideal for start-up or small businesses seeking affordable office accommodation that is accessible to the city centre and central business district, yet is also close to where families live.

Live-Work suites are also ideally suited to out-of-town business people that travel to the city a few days a week.  They can play an important role in providing both home and work accommodation for people with a disability.

The day-to-day running of a physical premises is typically the single biggest cost for most start-up and small businesses.  Live-Work suites can offer substantial cost savings.  One of the biggest advantages is that there is only one monthly mortgage or rent payment for the entire unit.  Other advantages include reduced heating, electricity and telecommunications costs and the need for just  one utility bill for each of these services.  In other words, running a business from a Live-Work unit means paying for one premises and not two.

Live-Work suites also eliminate the need for commuting, which is a major attraction for many potential purchasers in Dublin and saves both time and money.  They also help facilitate a healthy work-life balance, which is a particular attraction for those with young families.

Hooke & MacDonald, the market leader in new homes, specialises in the sale of Live-Work suites in Dublin and has an excellent selection of properties available in a variety of locations throughout the city.

Source: Hooke & MacDonald