Sculptures Roy Higgs , of Baltimore-based Design Development Group ( DDG ), which conceived and designed the area , decided to animate the eXpo Xplore Hall with illuminated sculptures . He commissioned local artists , Michelle Penfold and Sasi Paton , who hand-sculpted five 6m figures out of polystyrene coated with epoxy resin to show some of the sports in eXpo Xplore - a surfer , kite-surfer , body-boarder , jet-ski rider and skateboarder , probably the largest sculptures of action sport ever created .
The huge , pure white figures have continually changing coloured lights thrown on them as part of the dynamic R8m sound and light show in the vast 24m high space .
Fountains Water features of a nature never seen before in South Africa are central attractions . The shopping centre features three fountains of differing types . The main fountain , on Umhlanga Boulevard , offers an illuminated song and dance routine . By day , the fountain is a playful children ’ s dry plaza fountain , by night it is transformed into a water , light and choreographed musical extravaganza with a host of special effects .
The fountain is 30m in diameter and comprises an illuminated 25m long wave effect that surges up five metres , a jet that reaches a height of 2m and a series of shark fins that race back and forth at breathtaking speeds . It incorporates a unique series of 64 switches to operate the jets , and each can change five times a second . A pedestrian bridge allows viewers a close-up look at the fountain .
The other two fountains are equally impressive . The Palm Court fountain has five-metre high water cascades pouring from seven decorative ‘ Grecian ’ urns , falling onto a natural rockscape , with a lily pond , rather like a Roman bath .
The north court fountain comprises interactive high-tech water jets , air and lighting fibre-optic effects to provide an animated display of leaping , dancing water , shooting stars and a 25m high jet that bursts up into the dome , past the second shopping level .
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