ahead of its time
They Built A Solar Home In The '70s Before It Was Cool. Now, They're Selling It For $1.3 Million
It was the early '70s, and Paul and Patricia Grogan were looking for a new home.
The couple, who met in college in the '60s, lived in a cozy family house in an outer suburb of Dublin back then but dreamed of building one on their own.
[Paul and Patricia Grogan built a passive solar house in Ireland in the '70s. Paul Grogan.]
They stumbled upon a stunning plot in Kilcroney, a small town about 30 minutes outside Dublin. It was slightly over an acre, with a stream running through it, and offered views of a small mountain nearby.
The couple knew that they had found the perfect place to settle down. But before any construction could take place, the couple had to clear the site.
[The glass front meant that their house was able to absorb and retain heat. Provided by Colliers Dublin / Luxury Portfolio]
Living in Ireland, where the skies are often cloudy, they wanted their house to let in as much natural light as possible. They also wanted to be able to enjoy the views of the surrounding natural landscape.
Their architect helped them design the house, which is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, greenhouse-like structure with a fully glazed front.
"I suppose we liked the idea of being able to see things out of the house — just like our previous house," Paul, 81, who does consulting work for the design and maintenance of database systems, told BI, "There was glass all around the courtyard, where we had a little garden with bamboo growing in it."
[While there is a lot of interest in sustainability now, Paul said it was "unusual" at the time to think about houses in that way. Provided by Colliers Dublin / Luxury Portfolio]
Be it earthen homes that keep cool in the summer or resilient towns that can survive a category-four hurricane, there has been a growing interest in sustainable houses in the face of rising temperatures and the climate crisis.
But in 1976, the year they built their house, it wasn't common to think about houses that way, Paul said.
During the summer, when the temperatures are slightly higher, the couple opens all the sliding doors on the glass front of the house, he said.
[The glass front of the house comprises windows and sliding doors that can be opened during the summer. Provided by Colliers Dublin / Luxury Portfolio]
It helps that the property is surrounded by trees that offer some shade during sunny days.
"If we feel the heat is getting too much, we can open the windows upstairs and get a draft down through that," he said.
It took less than eight months for their house to be built, Patricia said.
[They've raised their four daughters in the home. Provided by Colliers Dublin / Luxury Portfolio]
"It wasn't a very expensive house to build. We were surprised, but that's because of probably the simplicity of the construction and the bit of work we all put in to help keep the cost down," Paul said. "But that was 1976, and things were cheaper then, too."
[Patricia's office on the second floor overlooks the garden. Provided by Colliers Dublin / Luxury Portfolio]
When the couple first moved in, there were only two or three neighbors. But over the years, the community has expanded to include about 17 houses, each on about an acre or more of land, Paul said.
To read more about the couple's solar home, head to Business Insider.
