 |
Total Height
|
421
m (1403 ft)
|
Observatory Level
|
276
m (920 ft)
|
|
Architects
|
Kumpulan
Senireka
|
|
Total Weight
|
100,000
tonnes
|
|
Completion Date
|
May,
1996
|
|
Opening Date
|
July
23rd, 1996
|
|
Launch Date
|
October
1st, 1996
|
MENARA KUALA LUMPUR
One of the
most ambitious, mammoth projects ever undertaken in Malaysia, standing
statuesque in all its architectural perfections is Menara Kuala Lumpur. A
highly innovative combination of retail, leisure, entertainment and most of all
a hi-tech center for telecommunications. Completed in May, 1996 and acting as
the country's main telecommunications and multimedia broadcasting tower, Menara
Kuala Lumpur - or KL Tower - is perched atop Bukit Nanas
and rises to a height of 421m (1403 ft); a highly visible
and prestigious landmark . Bukit Nanas itself, where the tower is built,
is 94 meters above sea level. Located in the heart of the Golden Triangle at
the epicentre of Kuala Lumpur's business and entertainment district, you can
reach the Tower from Jalan Sultan Ismail to Jalan P. Ramlee via Jalan Punchak
with parking provided for up to 184 vehicles (MAP, Aerial View). Menara KL was officially launched by YAB Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of
Malaysia, on October 1st, 1996.
It stands
majestically among the clouds as the tallest structure in South-East
Asia, the tallest single standing concrete structure in the world and fourth
tallest communication tower in the world (behind the CN Tower - 553m -
in Toronto, the Ostankino Tower - 537m - in Moscow, and the Shanghai Tower -
450m - in Shanghai).
ARCHITECTURE
The Tower's
architecture reflects the country's Islamic heritage with the construction
detailing Arabic Scripts, Islamic tiles, classic Islamic floral and abstract
motifs and soothing color combinations.
The KL Tower has been designed to
achieve an overall glass arranged in the traditional Islamic form of the
"Muqarnas". As the Muqarnas pattern recurs in the Tower Shaft design,
the architectural design of the Tower Head and the roof of the Base Buildings,
the whole appearance will become one harmonious entity reflecting the revival
of the Islamic architectural heritage.
The design of the decorative glass
windows at the top of the tower is based on the Muqarnas decoration of the Shah
Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. Muqarnas was constructed in the arrangement of glasses
on the domes of the lobby entrance to illustrate the 7 layers of the sky with
sun rays shining from the middle. The designs also represent the human journey
for perfection in life. With its unique architectural heritage, Menara KL has
become a prime tourist attraction in the capital city.
The natural
surroundings of Bukit Nanas were cared for during the construction of Menara
Kuala Lumpur to ensure balance in development and conservation of the
environment. In this effort, a 100-year-old Jelutong tree (Dyera Costulata) was
preserved by building a retaining wall around the tree at the cost of
RM430,000.
Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd (188533-A),
Jalan Punchak, Off Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : + (603) 208 5448
Fax : + (603) 204 2609
http://www.menarakl.com.my/
Jalan Punchak, Off Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : + (603) 208 5448
Fax : + (603) 204 2609
http://www.menarakl.com.my/
MONDAY -
FRIDAY =
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, SUNDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS = 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ENTRACE FEE = RM 8.00 (US$2) adult and RM 3.00 (US$.75) children (4-12)
SATURDAY, SUNDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS = 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
ENTRACE FEE = RM 8.00 (US$2) adult and RM 3.00 (US$.75) children (4-12)
FREE
=
children ages 3 and below
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRUCTURE
The
structure consists of five basic sections i.e. the Foundation Base, Touristic
Building, the Tower Shaft, the Tower Head and Antenna Mast.
FOUNDATION BASE
The
Foundation Base comprises a 3 level basement for safety needs, storage and
maintenance work. The lower ground floor houses the control/maintenance room, a
cafeteria for staff, and a water reservoir for firefighting and domestic
supply. The maximum diameter of the Base is 54 meters.
TOURISTIC BUILDING
At the upper
ground floor, the two-level touristic area is linked to the 146-metres long
pedestrian mall which adjoins the main entrance featuring a cascading
reflective pool in its centre. The space at the ground level houses mainly the
switch-room, kitchen for the revolving restaurant and administration office for
Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd. The main public area and entrance is at the upper
ground level. At this level there are 9 shoplots, a fast food restaurant, a
mini-theatre (47 seats; shows a documentary on the construction of the tower
every 15 minutes) and an open-air amphitheatre (222 seats), surau (prayer
room), public toilet and office space for MKLSB. The upper ground level is also
accessible through the Escalator from the ground level.
TOWER SHAFT
The Tower
Shaft comprises 22 levels, with 4 elevators and 2058 flight of stairs. The
circular concrete Tower Shaft is designed with vertical ribs on the external
surface, fanning out into decorative painted aluminium Islamic pattern at the
soffit of the Tower Head. Along the Tower Shaft are twenty-two (22) platforms
providing access to the lift lobby for maintenance and rescue purposes. Rooms
for the cellular phone radio base station are allocated at level T02 (30m above
the ground level). The Tower Shaft is 24.5 m at its widest and narrows to 13.6m
near the top. The thickness of shaft walls goes from 1.4 m to 0.6 m.
TOWER HEAD AND ANTENNA MAST
The entire
6-level tower head is clad in glass (double-glazed with gas infilled) arranged
in the traditional Islamic form of the "muqarnas". Four high speed
lifts (capacity = 800 people per hour) will zoom you up the KL Tower to the
Observation Platform in 60 seconds where a breath taking 360° view of the city
by day and by night awaits. Visitors will find an observation platform on the
first level and a revolving restaurant on the second level. The Tower Head has
a total area of 7,700 sq meters and is 50 m diameter-wide at its widest point.
Note: It's 2,058 steps from the Base to the Tower Head! The Tower Head also
houses the telecommunication and broadcasting stations.
The Restoran
Berputar Seri Angkasa (revolving restaurant; capacity = 250), located
at Level Two of the Tower Head, serves international and local cuisine 'above
the clouds'. At a height of 282 meters above ground level, this 9,172 square
feet restaurant offers not only a revolving dining area, but also music area
and lounge. The restaurant is open daily from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm for lunch and
7.00 pm to 11.00 pm for dinner. A la carte menus are available for lunch and
dinner. A la carte menus are available for lunch and dinner, which are priced
at RM50++ for lunch and RM70++ for dinner on weekdays. High tea buffet is also
available everyday from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm.
Other
attractions at the Tower include the world's highest McDonalds and
the Tower Burger! The last section of Menara Kuala Lumpur is an 86
meters long telecommunication and broadcasting antenna mast which also includes
RTM's antenna serial for UHF, VHF and FM band at the last 12 m of the antenna
mast.
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