Kota Kinabalu: An international standard twin towers condominium development in Luyang is set to be Sabah's highest building at more than 50 storeys high with a tentative cap at 56 storeys when completed in a few years' time.

The project has been approved, in principle, by the Sabah State Cabinet and the Central Planning Board.

The developer has yet to finalise its name and design - still incorporating best international standards and practices for the planned 540 units to attract discerning locals and expatriates.

One thing though, at 56 storeys, the condo complex is about half the height of the proposed Menara Merdaka's 118 storeys in Kuala Lumpur, which is destined to be Malaysia tallest and new financial district hub.

It would be higher than the Menara Tun Mustapha (30 storeys), the Sabah State Administration Complex (38 storeys) and the reportedly highest building planned in Sabah and Tawau - the yet-to-be-built Tawau Times Square at 39 storeys along Jalan Pesisiran.

At the recent World Architecture Day exhibition in Kota Kinabalu, this condominium complex and the Sabah State Administration Complex were not featured for public viewing of plans or artist illustrations.

Its Sabahan architect Jeremy John Lo Vui Ken explained that the Sabahan mover behind the development, Datuk David Chu, wants the twin towers to be an iconic structure for Sabah to showcase Sabah's talents and capability lasting into the next century.

Chu is also the developer of the Jesselton Residences, the highest iconic seafront building in Kota Kinabalu's CBD at 33 storeys.

Lo said: "The engineering design allows tolerance of seismic tremors of up to 5 or 6 on the Richter's Scale. Consideration in design for exclusive lifts and lobbies are still being worked out after a visit to Singapore to look at the very best.

"What we can assure occupants is that service lifts will be provided for staff.

The occupants will not have to share their lifts with maintenance staff or cleaners. There will be a refuse chute for garbage disposal at every floor like in Singapore."

Chu opines, "It will be the highest condominium complex in Malaysia and Southeast Asia with a 360 degree panoramic view of Kota Kinabalu sited on a five-acre land in an excellent location with good convenient accessibility.

That would make an iconic statement for Sabah in home architecture and design when it marks the 50th anniversary of independence in the Federation of Malaysia next year when the project is expected to be launched and when the Asean Economic Community comes to fruition by 2015.