Sherry FitzGerald New Homes sold 200 apartments . . . average price 450,000 . . . within 24 hours as yet again young couples queued overnight and from the early hours of the morning to secure a first home.

Landmark Developments, the company formed by Paddy Shovlin and hoteliers Tony and Pat Fitzpatrick, had secured almost 100m in sales by today as the apartments in the second phase of the mixed development of offices, live-work homes, apartments, hotel and private hospital begins to take shape. By the time it is completed this scheme will be worth about 1.2bn.

The apartments sold last week are in a phase known as The Edges, a name which reflects the sort of modernist take on the mix between life and design which this development seeks to epitomise.

Last year, 300 apartments at the first phase . . . The Cubes . . . sold in one weekend and buyers have seen capital appreciation of between 10 and 15 per cent without even moving in.

A total of 850 apartments are included in the scheme and according to Ross McParland, managing director of Sherry FitzGerald New Homes, his staff are currently compiling a list of names who will be eligible for any cancellations or who may be interested in the later phases to be launched towards the end of the year.

"Buyers were overwhelmingly young people who live within three miles of the area. They have been very impressed with the overall design and with the plans for the future, " says McParland.

Shops, the Luas and a new cultural quarter under the supervision of cultural director, filmmaker and author Peter Sheridan are all part of the package. The striking modern architecture in the 10 contemporary blocks which make up The Edges, designed by the Traynor O'Toole Partnership, have all had a strong impact on young buyers looking for a 21stcentury home.

All these have been on view at the Beacon South Quarter marketing suite . . .a 1m high-tech buyers' interactive adventure centre where interested parties have been able to get a realistic taste of things to come.

But within the next few weeks, it will all be gone.

This state-of-the-art marketing suite is to be demolished . . . to make way for the apartments themselves.