Themed jungle retail area in the old tea-rooms. Trees with
shelving and display features hide concrete columns, and
walls and ceiling were scenically painted to add to the
effect. Background jungle sounds were played through
speakers hidden in the foliage. Another shop was designed
and installed at Whipsnade Zoo, but on a much smaller
scale. Arklight was a floating light and sound attraction
on the Regent's Canal, where it passes through London Zoo.
Working with Clouston, Landscape Architects, Benham and
Associates, Consulting Engineers and British Waterways as
joint partners, Don Grant Design came up with both the
concept and design, as well as the name, Arklight. A full
scale barge was mocked up on the canal at Brentford, to
test the lighting effects, the mechanical rail and runners,
as well as the generator, motor and special FX, which
included neon, fibre-optics underwater lighting, and smoke
machines. The flotilla comprised up to twenty floats, and
included internally lit and 'independently sprung' penguins
on an ice-flow, internally-lit zebra, brachiating neon
gibbons, pink flamingoes on a tropical island, a lion with
a fibre-optic mane and the largest float, Noah's Ark. The
project was approved by the board and management but was
shelved due to the financial crisis the zoo found itelf in.