TOWERING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE The Petronos Twin Tawers ond the Suria KIC shopping centre are spectoculor new landmarks in the Kuolo Lumpur cityscape boy Felix Quek ¢ Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KOC) project Malaysia's mast ambitious undertaking to date, a spectacular showcase for this progressive country of 25 million, The rest ofthe world will we that Malaysia is moving in the right direction as-it enters the new tillennium: ward! The 100hacre KLOC project is located in the Golden Triangle, the pulsating heart capital, and its centrepiece is Malaysia y to the skies, the Petronas Twin Towers at 452 metres, the tallest in the world Visible fram miles away, th have filled Malaysians with the sense of pric el for the Su for the Eiffel Tower, The complex technical aspects of the project made it without a doubt Mapei’s biggest chall Asia so far ‘The Petronas Twin Towers Mapei’s innovative pra the completion of the soaring towers, where the movement of the structure had to be carefully compensated for. Immediately on entering the building one finds Mapei products underfoot in the granite flooring of the lift lobby. Mapet’s revolt granite in all ofthe 170 lift lt (om a total surfac of the towers area of more than 4,500 square metres. Due to the natureef the building, the screeds were fortified with PLANICRETE 50, a synthetic rubber latex For greater adhesion, strength and resistan Ifa conventional system had been used, the flooring would not have been able to wit the movements in the steel structure. Needless to say, PLANICRETE 50 perfectly satisfied the requirements. The 400x400 x 15:mm-granite slabs were then set with KERAFLOOR Grey mixed with ISOLASTIC for added flexibility The flooring was grouted with ULTRACOLOR for a high-quality colour-coordinatedt finish Mapei proxlucts can do wonders under almost ny conditions, whatever the specificat given project, but itis the technical support Mapei provides that makes it the brand of choice During construction i pei technical48 bridge espe ata height of 172 me provided eificient on-site consultation reganding the best methods of installation, This close cooperation with the client is what makes Mapei unrivalled im its fel, Suria, the light of the sun ‘The podium that anchors the Petronas ‘Twin Towers houses the shopping and entertainmi like of which had never before been scen in Malaysia. The word Suria means “the light of the sun* in Bahasa Malaysia, and the Suria Centre is dazzling ints design, its size, and the quality ofits tenants. ‘A focal point for fashion, leisure a entertainmen, the Suria KLCC rises on six levels above four levels of underground parking, covering a total ‘area of 140,000 square metres, with 54,000 square metres of retail space. ‘Sura KLCC features more t specialty stores, inchudin of flagship stores as weil as international and regional newcomers that add variety to the shopping seene. Other attractions nclude theme restaurants and two spacious food courts to caer to the tastes of cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, population currently 3 million and growing, Far it to be truly awe-inspiring the developers of the project knew that nothing could be left toehance and only the best would do. Mape als were selected to be used not only to install the flooring in the retail spaces but also for cladding the exterior of the Suria Centre. Mapei’s winning combination of high-end products and technical know how offered the sophistic technical solutions that th KLCC project called for. Marble floors for the Suria KLCC Centre To allow for the movement Inherent in steel-frame buildings, the floors were Belo, of the te pl de genetical layout riots tot Jewel inspire by te trait e ledamic arabes ies use rpresents the sad the cart points and fntricacy mirvars the sunfishthree aes of ning Eth (MAPECEM (othe construction: the Suria KLCC Ce Frwsed i he pte a the base of the Petrouns Tourere designed with floating screeds formed over the structural edsand renders concrete floor slabs. polished floor tiles we M special fast-sotting hydraulic binder was used for KERABOND ble slabs were also used fo ‘were installed with KERAFLOOR and I adhesive which allows for the movements of the building, The with KERACOLOR. marble flooring was grouted with ULTRACOLOR rapid-setting, hrs HIE een Homogeneous set with ISOLASTIC, which stall homogeneous STIC, a flexible tiles on the walls. Grouting: was done and hardening cement-based grout, ‘Cladding the exterior It was challenging task to make sure that the screeds could ihstand thestress and mevement ofthe building without The cladding of the Suria Centee has been «racks forming on such a large surface, Movement and Mapei’s best work to date in Malaysia. ‘expansion joints were sealed with MAPEFLEX PU21, an The exterior v abrasion-resistant sealant for floors subject to heavy trafficand ad to withst high movement. Mapei products were bathrooms in the Suria KLCC. MAPELASTIC, a two-component 3 flexible cement mortar was used to waterproof ti PLANICRETE 50 was used to prepare the 4,500 sq hesion and flexibi onerete, and shack. These- require using Wark in progress Right lading the ofthe Satie KIC Centre dit detail) installation not anly id the building's so used in the public ‘movements, italso had to have sufficient ty to absorb thermal ements Were met by ABOND and ISOLASTIC flexible adhesive to bond more than 10,000 square metres of external cladding composed of factory-applied glazed ceramic tiles ‘on precast concrete panels With Mapet products to satisfy special construction requirements, the dreamlike Petronas Twin Towers and the Suria KLCC project became a reality, o50 An international effort Built as quarters of Petro Malaysian state ail company, the Pet >wers project was from the international effort. The Americ architect Cesar Pelli won the int competition for its des from many countries worked phases offs construction, Ma involvement, too, was inte thecombin idl persot japei (Malaysia) SDN BHD, if East Pre Lad, Singapore, Mapei Canoda Inc. and Mapel S:p.A. Italy. Mapel is proud to be a part of these landmark achies erits that aire deservedly Malaysia's new pride-and joy. ions of mal Quo tf, with La Coif of Maye fe. (Canada) Lf to right: Vittorts Ruano, Gubdo Lindam Trussardi from Mapel SpA ‘aly A.CREDITS PROJECT: Cesar Pell & Asiociah Associate Architect “Architects of Recor LCC Berhod actral Di n- Bhd KIA Te Praject Managemen! Consultant: Ihrer McGoven Tenoat interior Consultant Studios Lendseape Design: Balmori Associates Curtain Well Consultant: luroal Borger & Lighting Consultant Howaed Brondston & Porinar Vertical Transportation Consultant Karz Drogo Company Exterior Maintenance Consultant Uf Slety Conlin! & Astacio Atcuste od Telecemmunication: Shen, Milsom & ' Wied Tae! Yes end Irvin General Contractors: fo Lumpur City Conke (Holdings) Sanirion TECHNICAL DATA Projects KLCC Petronas Tin ‘Yeat of installaion: 1997-1998 Materials used: gravis Js set with KERABON ys with KERA