The brief for this site in the historic centre of Leeds was to create a high-density mixed use building for residential and commercial use. Set in a conservation area and immediately adjacent to a listed building of three storeys, the scheme had to respond not only to the sensitive requirements of its context, but also achieve a high density development of excellent quality.

The resulting design manages these apparently conflicting interests, taking the form of two sloping wings sheltering a private courtyard containing the vertical and horizontal circulation. All bedrooms in the residential units open onto this quiet space while living rooms face out towards the more active street environment.

The brief demanded high energy efficiency, an excellent acoustic environment and low construction costs. The solution maximises the use of prefabricated elements and the repetition of materials and components. Heat reclaim ventilation, fed from the courtyard micro climate, improves the energy performance of the apartments and reduces the ingress of unwanted noise from the street. The building, which provides 52 residential units and 600 sqm of commercial space, was shortlisted for the 2003 Housing Design Awards.