Petronas Towers - Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Petronas Towers
Location
Total Area
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10.7 million square feet | 994,000 square meters
Date of Completion
Client
1997
KLCC Property Holdings Berhad
The Petronas Towers, the central element of the Kuala Lumpur City
Centre development, are a modern expression of Malaysia’s culture,
history, and climate, and symbols of its economic growth and hopes
for the future. The twin towers rise from a mixed-​use base of cultural,
commercial, and public spaces set in a large park in the center of the
city. Until 2004, they were the world’s tallest buildings.
To create a uniquely Malaysian design, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects drew
from Islamic culture, Kuala Lumpur’s climate and light, and Malaysian
craft and design. The plan of the towers is generated from two
overlapping squares that form an 8-​pointed star, a pattern frequently
found in Islamic design. As the buildings rise, they step back six times,
and at each setback, the walls tip outward slightly, adding complexity
reminiscent of traditional Malaysian architecture. The towers are clad in
panels of glass and stainless steel that softly reflect sunlight.
Between the two towers is a powerful, figural void. To activate this
space — the center of the composition — a two-​
story bridge was
added at the 41st and 42nd floors, structured by angled brackets that
shape the space and accentuate the vertical thrust of the towers. This
sky lobby connects the buildings and contains spaces shared by both,
including elevator lobbies, a conference center, and a prayer room.
Inside, the project emphasizes local materials and patterns. The walls
of the lobbies are finished in light-​colored Malaysian woods set in
a stainless steel grid, and the marble floor pattern is derived from a
pandan weaving pattern. A continuous wood screen shades the
lobbies. In the shopping areas, arcades and canopies at street level
evoke the five-​foot way found in traditional Malaysian shop houses.
Although designed and built before sustainability was a common
design priority, the towers’ design conserves energy through attention
to climate and location. Shading devices are built into the façade at
every story to take advantage of Malaysia’s high sun angle, a traditional
practice in tropical architecture. In addition, laminated glass was used
to reflect radiation away from the interiors and minimize heat gain, thus
reducing the use of air-​conditioning.
1056 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510 | T: 203.777.2515 | F: 203.787.2856
© Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects 2015
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Petronas Towers
1056 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510 | T: 203.777.2515 | F: 203.787.2856
© Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects 2015