The Dutch architect at the centre of a storm of protest over its designs for a pair of towers in South Korea, which have been likened to images of the World Trade Centre towers collapsing, has said the developer is deciding whether or not to replace it.

Rotterdam practice MVRDV said it has received comments from as far away as Brazil and Australia about the plans, critics of which have said resemble the twin towers in New York beginning to fall following the terrorist attacks.

Called the Cloud, the project was presented to developer Dream Hub Corporation last week in Seoul. The larger tower is 300m high with the smaller tower measuring 260m. They are connected by what the architect calls a “pixelated cloud of additional programme”.

MVRDV spokesman Jan Knikker said the practice had received 200 hate emails from a US website earlier this week and individual staff have been abused.

The firm presented an alternative design at last week’s meeting and Knikker added: “We are in close contact with the developer. It’s a concept design so they do change. I really don’t know at the moment whether it will.”

He admitted the firm had been shocked by the level of protest and apologised if the design had caused offence. “We sincerely apologise to anyone whose feelings we have hurt.”

The developer, which hasn’t released images of its alternative, is expected to decide which design to go with by next spring.