King’s Cross Square f
orms a focal point at the heart of a district which, following decades of neglect, is being injected with a new energy through a range of major urban and transport projects. The site has been transformed into a significant new civic space for London, complementing the area’s rich history while providing a modern, open space that functions as a vital part of the major transport interchange around King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. The Square also accommodates the entrance stairs, technical equipment and vent shafts for the complex London Underground structures that lie beneath it. Designed to visually link the square to the restored historic facade of the station, the Square is paved with striking bands of dark and light grey granite, recalling the railway lines that terminate behind the station’s fac?ade and accentuating the hard-edged, urban feel appropriate for the square’s busy location. The use of granite is consistent throughout, providing a strong visual identity. All landscape elements such as benches and tree planters are clad in dark grey granite, visually locking into the dark paving stones. The overall design quality is enhanced by soft landscaping. Benches are integrated into the design of the planters and provide a shady area for pedestrians to sit, pause, enjoy and engage with the square.
✕
