I am left somewhat without words when I behold the awesome scale of the proposed project Penang Global City Center, designed by Asymptote Architecture. I mean this stuff is what all us Star Trek + Wars fans have been waiting for- dreaming of. Just imagine riding in the fast rail. You’ve set off for the day and as you shoot high above the ground, over the approaching plane, the impressive edifice looms closer and closer, filling more and more of your view until suddenly- you shoot past the walls into another world.
photography by Âİ Asymptote Architecture
The complex is comprised of 2.5 towers and a massive plinth which contain high-end residential, luxury hotels, the Penang Performing Arts Center (PenPAC), a high-end retail and entertainment complex, an observatory, a world-class convention center and the extensive public space created atop the plinth. The towers twist in opposing directions up from the pedestal and are predominantly glazed in the form of facets which seem to be membranes stretched from a sort of organic framework.
photography by Âİ Asymptote Architecture
Project info :
Architect: Asymptote Architecture
Location: penang, Malaysia
Project Year: 2006
Size: 1,000,000 sq. m
Client: abad naluri sdn. bhd.
Mep and structural engineer: arup environmental
Designers: atelier ten cladding consultant: front, inc.
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.