Entertainment Fountain, SmartCity Lagoon, Malta
A new waterfront destination needed an attraction that would define its identity. At the heart of SmartCity Malta, Oase created the country's first musical fountain, transforming a Mediterranean saltwater lagoon into an immersive entertainment experience that continues to attract visitors more than a decade after opening.
The challenge
Creating a landmark for a new destination
SmartCity Malta was conceived as a mixed-use waterfront development combining offices, residential buildings, retail and hospitality around a large artificial lagoon.
To establish the lagoon as the focal point of the development, the client sought an entertainment fountain unlike anything previously seen in Malta. The brief was simple but ambitious: create a landmark water spectacle that would attract visitors, activate the waterfront and strengthen the commercial appeal of the destination.
The project also presented a significant engineering challenge. The entire fountain would operate using Mediterranean seawater, requiring every component to withstand continuous exposure to a highly corrosive environment while delivering reliable long-term performance.
A fountain designed for entertainment
Oase developed a multimedia entertainment fountain that combines choreographed water, lighting and music to create a constantly evolving visitor experience.
The installation features dramatic water displays reaching heights of up to 30 metres, made possible through the first application of Oase Air Nozzles in a seawater fountain. Dynamic performances transform the lagoon throughout the day and into the evening, creating an attraction that complements the surrounding restaurants, offices and public spaces.
Rather than serving as a decorative feature, the fountain became the centrepiece around which the waterfront experience was built.
Delivering the project
Engineering for the Mediterranean
Operating a fountain in seawater requires a fundamentally different engineering approach from conventional freshwater installations.
Every aspect of the system was designed to maximise durability, minimise corrosion and ensure reliable long-term operation within the Mediterranean environment. Material selection, hydraulic design and system engineering were all tailored specifically for saltwater use.
The result was Oase's first large-scale seawater entertainment fountain—one that has continued operating successfully since 2013, demonstrating the long-term reliability of the solution.
The results
A destination that comes alive after dark
Today, the lagoon is recognised as one of SmartCity Malta's defining attractions.
The choreographed fountain performances draw residents, office workers and tourists throughout the day, while evening shows transform the waterfront into a vibrant public destination. Restaurants and cafés benefit from increased activity around the lagoon, and the fountain has become a popular gathering place for events and leisure.
More than a fountain
The project demonstrates how water can become an economic driver within mixed-use developments.
By creating an attraction that encourages visitors to stay longer and return regularly, the entertainment fountain has helped strengthen the identity of SmartCity Malta while enhancing the value of the surrounding commercial, hospitality and residential spaces.
Key project highlights
Malta's first musical fountain
Oase's first large-scale Mediterranean seawater fountain
Entertainment fountain integrated into a mixed-use waterfront development
Water displays reaching up to 30 metres
First application of Oase Air Nozzles in a seawater installation
Continuous operation since 2013
Designed specifically for long-term saltwater performance
Landmark attraction supporting retail, hospitality and public spaces
Project fact sheet
- Project name:
- SmartCity Lagoon
- Location:
- Kalkara, Malta
- Year completion:
- 2013
- Environment:
- Mixed-use waterfront development
- Water Type:
- Saltwater
- Height of installation:
- Up to 30m
- Features:
- Oase air nozzles
- Services:
- Design, Engineering, Show Programming, Manufacturing, Project Management