KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his condolences to family members of César Pelli - the architect behind the Petronas Twin Towers - who died yesterday.
In a 30-second video, the Prime Minister said he was saddened by the death of the Argentinian architect who had translated his idea into an iconic national landmark.
“I feel sad to hear the passing of the acclaimed architect Mr. César Pelli of Argentina. He (travelled) from New York to come here and design the iconic towers. My condolences to his family and friends,” Dr Mahathir said.
One of Pelli’s most prolific designs, the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers were completed in 1998, and was dubbed the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 at 452 metres tall.
Argentina’s Telam state news agency reported his death on Friday, as did the governor of Tucuman province, where Pelli grew up and spent his formative years.
His death at 92, marked the passing of one of the world’s contemporary architectural greats.
Pelli, who grew up in Argentina and studied architecture at the University of Tucumán in the country’s far northwest, established himself as a visionary and educator.
In 1952, Pelli left for the United States on a scholarship grant, after graduating from the University of Tucuman.
Later, he became the dean of Yale’s architecture faculty from 1977 to 1984, and counted the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal among his many accolades.