Petronas Towers History
Petronas Towers History and KLCC history. Before the Petronas Towers, the area used to be the Kuala Lumpur Turf Club. During those days, the 1980s, traffic jams were really bad, especially during the weekends where horse racing takes place.
How Did It All Begin?
As a result the Turf Club was shifted out to the suburbs of The Mines. Suddenly the area, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur was available for redevelopment. The possibilities were amazing.
Initially the area was supposed to be a park in the city to provide a green lung for the city folks. In fact that's what the government promised when they wanted to shift the turf club out of the city. However, the lure of the billions to be made overrode the need for a greener Kuala Lumpur.
Ananda Krishnan - Malaysia's Richest Man
Ananda Krishnan, a publicity shy successful business tycoon, was given handed the OK to redevelop the area. His company, MAI Holdings, teamed up with Petronas to form Kuala Lumpur City Center Berhad to jointly carry out the project. The development was to be done in stages so as to avoid a glut in the property market. It was also revealed that Petronas would shift it's headquarters there. This announcement further fuel interest in the project.
The Petronas Towers History continues with Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir. He was a key decision maker in the concept and design of the development. He had wanted a building that would be identifiably Malaysian, that was of world class and which Malaysians could be proud of.
Design Competition for Petronas Towers
An international design competition was held among 'invited' architectural firms. There were no open competitions or tenders in Malaysia then or even now. There were eight entries for the design competition. They not only had to meet the PM's criteria but also had to be functional and practical.
Eventually the competition was won by the Argentinian-American architect, Cesar Pelli, who also designed the World Financial Center in New York, and the Canary Wharf in London. He presented two slim towers which gradually decreasing circumference pointing upwards, which gives an impression of two elegant towers spiraling towards the heavens.
The important part of the towers is the skybridge. It not only serve the purpose of faciliting human movement across the two towers, it was also symbolic of a sky portal and a gateway to Vision 2020. Vision 2020 was Dr. Mahathir's vision for Malaysia becoming a developed nation by the year 2020.
Initially the Petronas Towers were not designed to be the tallest building in the world. In the original design, it was to be 427 metres. The tallest building then was the 443 metres tall Sears Towers of Chicago. The project was already underway when the Dr. Mahathir suddenly requested that it attempts to be the tallest. After much recalculation, it was declared possible. Not by increasing the number of floors but by extending the height of the pinnacle.
Now you know a little more about Petronas Towers History.
Suria KLCC Map
View KLCC Map in a larger map
Photos of Petronas Twin Towers and KLCC
Go to the top of this Petronas Towers History page
What do you love about Kuala Lumpur?
What's the #1 thing that you love. And what's your # 1 thing you hate about Kuala Lumpur? Share with us your kudos and complaints about Kuala Lumpur.
If you find this page helpful please recommend it by clicking on these buttons:
New! Comments
"
Share your thoughts. Help me improve this page. Thanks.