This issue of Architecture Malaysia takes us to dizzying heights—literally and figuratively—as we delve into the world of the supertall. Our cover story features Merdeka 118, the world’s second tallest tower at 678.9 metres, a monumental presence in the Kuala Lumpur skyline that signals both ambition and possibility.
As an architect, I often find myself seeking moments of awe—those rare instances when the scale, precision, and poetry of a space leave you breathless. That moment came for me the day I walked into the Merdeka 118 lobby. Looking up into the soaring 40-storey atrium, light cascading from above, I felt a kind of reverence—wonder at the audacity of design, at the invisible hands and collective effort that made this feat possible. It was a reminder that buildings can still surprise us, move us, and inspire us.
The journey to PNB’s office at Level 92 was no less surreal. As the lift doors opened, I stepped into a space suspended in the sky. Outside, a sea of clouds swirled around the tower. Slowly, as the weather shifted and the skies cleared, the city came into view—unfurling like a map beneath us, with the Titiwangsa range holding steady at the horizon. It was a rare and humbling perspective: a reminder of our place in the vastness, and the reach of our aspirations. Up there, one cannot help but reflect on the city’s past, present, and future.
Towers have long held symbolic and functional roles in urban life. They signal progress, density, and sometimes, defiance. As Rem Koolhaas observed in Delirious New York, “The Skyscraper is the architectural tool to establish urban intensity.” In a city like Kuala Lumpur—dynamic, complex, and growing—the supertall is not simply a record-breaking feat; it is a response to an evolving urban condition, a new layer added to our collective identity. These tall buildings tell a story of how cities stretch themselves in search of space, light, meaning, and in our case, prominence on a world stage.
In parallel, Malaysia’s Urban Renewal Bill — currently under consideration—seeks to regulate the redevelopment of ageing buildings in our urban centres. The Institute has provided constructive feedback for the Bill, championing more equitable and thoughtful outcomes (page 76). In many ways, the Merdeka 118 development offers a tangible and timely model of what such urban regeneration can look like. Its integration with surrounding historical landmarks and its sensitive adjacency to the Chinatown precinct show that bold new development need not erase history, but can instead frame it, connect to it, and even strengthen it. As architects, we must not only design, but also articulate and advocate for better solutions— ensuring that renewal brings with it equity, continuity, and meaningful impact for all.
In our exclusive interview, Tengku Dato’ Ab. Aziz bin Mahmud, CEO of PNB Merdeka Ventures, and Ar. Farid Baharuddin of RSP, the tower’s Executive Architect, shares valuable insights into the project’s inception (page 80). From the bold vision that shaped the brief to the careful assembly of a consultant team capable of delivering a structure of this magnitude, their story charts the evolution of a project that pushed the limits of collaboration and craft. The synergy between the international design architect and our locally based executive architects showcases the strength of our homegrown talent and the robust support systems that rose to the challenge.
Crucially, it reveals how an entire ecosystem— consultants, contractors, engineers, and specialists— benefited from the highly specific and demanding requirements of a supertall building. Beyond concrete and steel, what matters most is the knowledge gained and retained. I hope that Merdeka 118 becomes more than a landmark—it becomes a launchpad. One that allows talented Malaysian individuals who worked on various aspects of the project – the architects, engineers, and contractors– to step confidently onto the world stage, supported by an ecosystem that champions excellence, innovation, and resilience.
As you read this issue, I invite you not only to reflect— but to experience. Visit the tower (when it eventually fully opens to the public). Walk through its public spaces. Look up into the atrium. Take that journey to the top. Let the view take your breath away. As you do, ponder these questions: What do towers mean in your city, in your practice, in your imagination? What legacy should we leave for the skyline of tomorrow?
Let’s keep building, dreaming, and reaching—together.
David Teoh
Editor-in-Chief, Architecture Malaysia
Director, GreenBuildingIndex Sdn Bhd
