an urban infill scheme of 5 no. dwelling units in the established st. lukes area of cork city. the scale and typology of residential unit proposed respects the existing urban grain of the residential neighbourhood in which it will sit. the living units step with, and relates to, the topography of the existing street edge with own door access to each unit frontage direct off the street. the rear of each unit orientates towards the city and the river below and sets up private amenity decks and garden areas accessed directly from the main living areas. the parking area is underneath and out of sight allowing the building forms to relate to the street level without cars visually cluttering the public frontages. the form and section of the proposed houses step away from private gardens to the east in clear reaction to existing houses below on the lower road. the proposed buildings seek to create an architecture that is contemporary, but that is also informed by good urban design principles of scale and composition and streetscape, to allow it to sit well in its receiving environment. planning permission was granted by cork city council in october 2008.