The Mall in La Lucia, Durban North, was recently revamped and now boasts three striding stainless steel towers which welcome customers to the new centre. Each tower is 6.6m high and 2.2m wide, on a built-up planted base.

Landscape Architects Uys & White created this sophisticated new image for Mine Pension Fund Properties owners of The Mall. Easy Engineering of New Germany fabricated, polished and installed the towers and the profiles were cut by Laser Junction of Durban, using their new 3KW Carbon Dioxide laser.

The selected theme of the towers is a direct representation of the coastal environment. The towers explore the use of negative space in the form of fish, which are cut out of stainless steel material. The use of positive space is visible in the silhouettes of birds, circling towards the sky. The base is anchored by a large wave like image made from stainless steel tubing.

A new shopping centre logo is also present on the towers and is carried through into the centre in the form of stainless steel light covers and column capitals. These have been laser cut from thinner gauge stainless steel. The coastal theme is re-emphasised in The Mall where the same negative-positive fish and bird designs can be seen.

The three towers have been constructed using 4mm grade 316 stainless steel, specified to withstand the sever atmospheric corrosion conditions of the coast. Other advantages of using stainless steel include its aesthetic appeal, general durability, low maintenance requirements and structural strength.

Stuart Folkard, Regional Manager for Columbus Stainless says that high quality stainless steel was used on these structures. He further stated that due to the aggressive coastal environment, designers and specifiers are advised to use Grade 316 stainless steel up to 1km from the sea in order to avoid discoloration problems.