Custom House Square was Belfast’s first ‘purpose designed’ events space, which now hosts incidental small-scale activities as well as large events. Day and night-time use of the space was essential to the design, with performances and events as an integral part of the square’s vitality. At night a computer controlled grid of lights in the paving creates mood and dynamism. The Civic Trust Award winning public realm also includes a choreographed water feature marking the line of the former Farset river. The quality of materials, including stone carriageway finishes, all contribute to the scheme’s longevity. The project has transformed a previously inhospitable vehicle-dominated space into a civic square that has secured international acclaim.