Outrage.

The next building to be tallest in the world offers a pattern for Malaysia's architectural identity. But surely the cocktail of superficialities is too absurd.

There is a certain kind of Western architect who, when working in other places, attempts to foster regionalism (so often ignored by insensitive locals) by copying the most obvious traditional forms and liberally smearing them about, with no regard for propriety, scale or materiality. Such people were responsible for that revolting eruption of concrete ogee arches that infected the Middle East in '70s.

Today, the game is a little more subtle. Cesar Pelli's twin office towers, now finishing in Kuala Lumpur, combine elements from at least two traditional cultures. The towers (topped by 73m high finials) will be the tallest buildings in the world for a while (six months, six years, who can tell?). No-one can criticise Kuala Lumpur for wanting to join in the (essentially daft) race to have the world's tallest edifice: the city wants to demonstrate that it is a great thriving business centre. Why not? And who better to turn to than Mr. Pelli? A thrusting modern commercial city can scarce be considered complete without one of his massive erections. No casual tourist he: in the first half of 1997 he's in Malaysia, and is determined to let us all (particularly the locals) know that he's got a grip of the culture, and indeed has much to contribute to it - a national architectural identity, no less. The poor folk had nothing to offer as precedent to a busy international architect than a few log huts and run-down colonial buildings. So where are the nearest memorable silhouettes? In Thailand - but Siamese temples are Buddhist, and Malaysia is a Muslim state, so something had to be done. Why not make an arbitrary pattern of squares and circles, announce that it is a Muslim arabesque and make it the plan? In a few simple moves, the quotidian is miraculously permeated by the numinous. And, don't forget that it's a modern glazed office in the tropics: add little brises-soleil to show energy consciousness (and riffle the silhouette).

Shake the whole medley of superficialities vigorously together and you've got a new architectural style, a pattern for the nation. Surely Malaysia is too proud and sensible to take to the cocktail. P.D.