These sleek twin skyscrapers held the ‘tallest buildings in the world’ badge for 6 years from 1998 and are a distinctive feature of the Malaysian capital’s skyline. Architects Cesar Pelli and Achmad Murdijat were responsible for its 88 floor design, which, despite its postmodernist style, contains references to Islamic art, an acknowledgement of Malaysia’s Muslim religion. For instance, the steel and glass facade resembles Islamic art motifs, and the cross section is based on the symbolic Rub el Hizb.
14. Lloyds Building, London
High tech and futuristic – even for now, let alone for its time (it was built over the late seventies and early eighties) – the award-winning Lloyds building was the brainchild of architect Richard Rogers. Dubbed “The Inside Out Building”, its services – water pipes, staircases and even elevators – are to be found on the building’s exterior.
