Skyscraper Tourism: Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia

I’ve already posted about my love of skyscrapers. When I’m in a city with a great observation deck, I like to get up there early to enjoy views over the city and to get a bearing on the city’s geography from up on high.

I’ve already posted about things to see in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital. One visit not to be missed when you’re there is to take the lifts up the Petronas Twin Towers.

Built in the 1990s, the Petronas Towers  was the tallest skyscraper in the world for six years, from 1998 to 2004, until surpassed by Taipei 101 (see my earlier Skyscraper tourism post).

The Petronas Towers stand at 451. 9 meters tall, 88-storeys tall. They were designed by the Argentine-American architect César Pelli.

The design incorporates Islamic design elements. The design is based on simple Asian Islamic geometric forms of two interlocking squares – creating the shape of eight-pointed stars.

A combination of the stainless steel and glass of the facade were designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art. 55,000 glass panels were used in its construction.

The towers are supposed to represent an ‘M’ for Malaysia, and they house the headquarters of Petronas, the national petroleum company.

The double-decker skybridge at 170 meters connects the two towers. When I visited, visitors could only arrive to this point, still affording beautiful views over Malaysia’s capital. But I see now from its website that a higher level observation deck is now available.

I’ll head up there on my next visit.

I spent a lot of time admiring this skyscraper, since I had a fabulous view of it from my window at the wonderful Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. I loved looking out at the towers, so close it seemed I could almost touch them. They were especially beautiful illuminated at night.

Below the towers is a concert hall where classical performances are held, and a large shopping mall, with restaurants and a good food court.

If you’re travelling in Malaysia, see my earlier posts on the colonial past in Melaka, and the not-to-be-missed E&O Hotel in Penang.

Enjoy your skyscraper tourism!