Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is one of the most visited public spaces in the world, and in 2003 it was transformed by Foster and Partners in the largest change to the square since it was laid out in the 1840s. The scheme closed the road along the north side, opened a grand central stair beneath the National Gallery and gave the square back to people on foot. De Lank granite was chosen for the new paving, the steps and the long seat benches. Cornish granite and Yorkshire stone were specified together as a deliberately British palette, and the silver-grey De Lank stone was laid in strong tonal contrasts to help visitors with limited sight read the changes in level. Two decades of constant footfall later it has worn evenly and held its colour, in a setting where almost nothing else could survive the wear.