Some 700m2 of Burlington\'s distinctive blue/grey Kirby stone in a flamed finish has been used to help create an oasis of tranquillity for the 1,200 staff at the Treasury. The landscaped gardens of the west courtyard area in Whitehall, London, are part of a major refurbishment of the Edwardian grade 11* listed building by architects Foster & Partners, although the new gardens are the work of London-based landscape architects Gustafson Porter.

Formerly an inaccessible courtyard, the gardens serve to provide a relaxed and contemporary feel that is in sharp contrast to the surrounding formal built environment. The garden combines the blue/grey stone with stainless steel and hardwood timber with plants, trees and water features. The stone has been used primarily to create an underwater surface for the central water feature. Neil Porter of Gustafson Porter says: "The colour of this stone provides the perfect illusion of depth when laid beneath water and creates a mirror effect against the sky and surrounding buildings, especially at night when the facades are well lit.