Merdeka PNB 118 means, in Malaysian, "Independence Day PNB 118". The name has not been chosen at random: the 679-meter-high crystal-clear tower will be the centerpiece of Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Historic Site, where Independence from Malaysia was declared in 1957.
Flanked by other smaller residential towers of various shapes, along with a shopping mall covered with a glass dome, the 118 floors of the building will house residences, offices -also those of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), the fund management company that finances it- and a hotel of six! stars, presumably, of the Park Hyatt chain, crowned by a two-tier observation deck , shops and a restaurant.
futuristic airs
The opening of the tower, whose construction began in 2015, is scheduled for end of this same year. Then, it will take on real prominence faceted building design , composed of a pattern of triangular shapes which are “reminiscent of those found in traditional Malaysian arts and crafts”, according to architects from the Australian firm Fender Katsalidis.
This team, together with local architecture firm RSP Architects Sdn Bhd, have translated the dramatic language of exterior design into the towering volumes of the inner atrium. Appearing to be cut into solid stone, this area comprises a lower vestibule for access to the hotel at one end and, at the opposite end, a upper vestibule to give access to offices and retail.
almost like a temple
When the new tower is finished, it will predictably be a eye-catching tourist attraction and will lead the crowded skyline of the Malaysian capital along with two other iconic landmarks: the KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers. Only the Burj Khalifa, with its exceptional 828 meters of height, will remain ahead of it, in Dubai.
The world of records, yes, gives away ephemeral prizes: the latter is already facing the Dubai Creek Tower, designed by Santiago Calatrava and whose final height will be -if it is built, since it went through a break in 2020- of 1,300 meters.
The Merdeka PNB 118 will have a spectacular entrance