MALAYSIA ADVERtising featuRE | FEBRUARY 22, 2021 MERDEKA 118, KL’S NEW LANDMARK DESTINATION Overlooking the most historically significant places in the city, Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s development has been conceived, planned and developed to encapsulate the nation’s beginnings and, more crucially, its aspirations for the future ermodalan Nasional Bhd’s (PNB) Merdeka ence was declared. It also reflects us reaching out Located near Chinatown in KL, the Merdeka 118 118 tower is set to add a distinctive mark to for our future, to the sky beyond [to reach] our development spans a total of 40 acres, with half of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. The 118-storey potential,” she says. this land area comprising Stadium Merdeka and tower, upon its completion in 2022, will From the outset, Zeti says, it was PNB’s vision Stadium Negara. The remaining components, which be the first building to obtain triple plat- to create an iconic landmark building in the city. will be built in phases, include the 118-storey tower, Pinum green building accreditations both locally “We saw it as an opportunity to unlock the value a mall, linear park, textile gallery, childcare centre, and internationally. At a height of 635m, it will be when the land was acquired in the year 2000. It mosque and three residential towers. the second-tallest tower in the world. is to create a focal point within the area for com- Construction of the first phase of the project, com- For Malaysians and Klang Valley residents, what merce, culture and the preservation of our heritage. prising the 118-storey tower and infrastructure for will set the multi-faceted Merdeka 118 apart from “This is for our future generations to know about the surrounding area, as well as the second phase, other tall buildings in KL’s already architecturally how we came to achieve our independence, about comprising the mall and linear park, is already un- stunning skyline is its unique spire. Positioned at our heritage and how we have progressed over the derway. Both the tower and the mall are expected to the side of its highest peak, its design is a nod to years. Through this, they will not only know about be ready for occupation in the third quarter of 2022. the origins of its name. the modern Malaysia of today but also about our The final component of the development, Merdeka PNB group chairman Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Aziz says past and how we built the country over time, what Residences, is set for completion in 2025/26. the tower overlooks one of the most important we have achieved and what we aspire to achieve places in KL in terms of the country’s history — in the future.” A development like no other Stadium Merdeka — giving rise to its name. “It is The surrounding area, she notes, is also very PNB president and group chief executive Ahmad a tribute to the location where our independence special. “There are many old firsts here. There is the Zulqarnain Onn says the Merdeka 118 tower has was proclaimed, where 20,000 people uttered the Chin Woo Stadium, which houses the first Olym- about 1.66 million sq ft of net lettable office space word ‘Merdeka’ in 1957. And ‘118’ represents the pic-sized swimming pool in the country. There is and about one million sq ft of retail space. He number of floors in the tower. It will become the also one of the oldest secondary schools established adds that PNB and its group of companies will tallest building in Southeast Asia.” in 1893, the Victoria Institution (VI). Not too far take up about 600,000 sq ft, and the state-owned She adds that the name not only refers to the away is the recently regenerated and revived Rex fund management company is in fairly advanced nation’s beginnings, but also its current state, as Cinema that was completed in 1947, a place that I negotiations with a number of tenants for the re- reflected in the building’s modern design. “The did go to when I was a teenager,” she says. These maining office space. spire, which is at one side at the top of the build- buildings, she adds, reflect the old part of KL and Given that the Merdeka 118 tower is still under ing, symbolises the hand raised when independ- make up the historical fabric of the address. CONTINUES ON PAGE AF2 AF2 MERDEKA 118 AF3 FEBRUARY 22 FEBRUARY 22 2021 2021 M ERDE K A 118 A Design inspiration PNB is committed to investing in building new infrastructure as well as upgrading the existing “The message in our client’s first infrastructure surrounding the precinct to ensure communique to us was refreshingly simple: seamless connectivity and accessibility, says Would we be interested in assisting PNB Ahmad Zulqarnain with designing a tall tower in KL? Our answer was obviously ‘yes!’ and then, as we moved forward after engagement, the will also be ensured by using non-toxic paint and detailed design brief quickly evolved. It adhesives. An optimal indoor atmosphere pro- was clearly stated that the tower, despite moting natural light, along with daylight glare its height, should not in any way detract control, acoustic optimisation and temperature from the presence and importance of control, is all part of the strategy to make the Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara. The workplace a more conducive environment for our design was not to superficially replicate colleagues,” says Ahmad Zulqarnain. traditional Malaysian architecture but rather The many green initiatives at Merdeka 118 be a confident statement of Malaysia’s include solar panels sufficient for the entire hot modernisation and future global presence. water supply needs of the Park Hyatt hotel, LED [Merdeka 118] is a tribute to the We are putting together different lighting throughout the building, rainwater cap- “Merdeka 118 is designed outwardly as location where our independence parts of a city lifestyle where ture for irrigation and greywater capture for reuse. an extremely tall crystalline form, which was proclaimed, where 20,000 you can work, live, play, be “Merdeka 118 will be self-sufficient through pragmatically mitigates wind pressures. This our greywater capture system, which will collect complex form is made up of varying arrays people uttered the word ‘Merdeka’ healthy and be entertained.” and treat used water and send it back to the tower and sizes of triangular glass panels, which in 1957.” — Zeti — Ahmad Zulqarnain for reuse (in washrooms). The precinct will also follow the bracing lines of the structure, employ an irrigation system that will utilise grey- creating harmony between architectural water and rainwater to water the outdoor green- form and structure. The triangular facets FROM page AF1 ery within the precinct,” says Ahmad Zulqarnain. of the building are inspired by the patterns construction, this is also a plus, he notes. “We under- Apart from Merdeka 118’s multiple public often found in the songket materials of stand that due to the pandemic, new SOPs are being transit connections, within the development Malaysia and refer symbolically to the diverse implemented in office spaces. As Merdeka 118 has yet will be bicycle parking bays and amenities such ethnicities that form Malaysia’s rich culture. to be fully built, PNB has the opportunity to include as lockers and showers for cycling commuters appropriate contactless features in the design of our as well as prioritised parking for fuel-efficient “The roof of the building morphs into a office spaces,” he says. Some of the features being con- or hybrid vehicles. 120m-high perforated steel-clad spire, also sidered include contactless technology such as facial PNB has set a target for more than 30% of the crystalline in shape, forming an integral recognition, digital body temperature checks and QR materials used for the construction of the tower component of the building’s design. It further code access for visitors. to be recycled materials such as concrete, steel marks from afar this hallowed place within As for the mall, which will be ready for occupancy the city, and has already become fondly by mid-2022, he says it will span across seven floors adopted by the community as a direct and be connected to the tower’s observation deck — sitive, appropriate future placemaking in this location.” reference to the moment that Tunku Abdul the highest of its kind in the region. “We have care- PNB, Ahmad Zulqarnain adds, is dedicated to conserv- Rahman raised his hand in triumph when fully thought out the visitor experience so that when ing both stadiums, and established the Merdeka Heritage declaring Malaysia’s independence on 31 visitors start the journey to the observation deck from Park Hyatt Hotel will occupy the top 17 floors of the tower Trust (MHT) in 2007 for that very purpose. MHT works BUILDING OF August 1957. To me, this is a very satisfying the mall, they will get a bit of the history of KL and in- together with Badan Warisan Malaysia, whose meticu- example of a building being embraced to add sights into the Merdeka 118 development. mall being distinctive and differentiated. “The team lous conservation efforts earned Stadium Merdeka the another layer of rich legend to the city.” “Upon reaching the top, they will be met with spec- has worked very hard and is continually challenged UNESCO Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage Con- — Karl Fender, tacular 360° views of the KL skyline. Thrill seekers will to create destinations in the mall that are distinctive servation Programme in 2008. Architect of Merdeka 118, be able to walk on glass floors with nothing but the and differentiated, that you cannot find anywhere else Restoration activities at the stadium include the THE FUTURE founding partner of Fender Katsalidis Architects city below, and the truly exceptional thrill seeker can in KL,” she says.