Commercial Office
Colony Group Head Office
Precision Architectural Timber System for Commercial Interiors in Indonesia
Architect
Studio Andra Matin
year
2017
location
South Jakarta, Indonesia
size
500 m²
The Brief
Project Overview
Colony Group Head Office represents Woodlam’s first commercial validation of a precision interior timber batten system in Jakarta’s climate-controlled office environment. The project tested whether locally sourced Gmelina could meet the fabrication tolerances and long-term dimensional stability required for exposed architectural timber in a commercial setting.
Objective
The objective was to establish measurable fabrication and installation standards for exposed interior timber systems by testing:
• Controlled kiln-drying to interior moisture levels suitable for air-conditioned environments
• Millimeter-level alignment tolerances across long vertical runs
• Repeatable spacing modules for modular installation efficiency
• Surface finishing consistency for commercial-grade interiors
This project set the operational benchmark for Woodlam’s subsequent architectural timber systems.
The Constraints
First Commercial Timber Installation
At the time, Woodlam had not yet developed a standardized interior batten system. Fabrication tolerances, spacing modules, and fixing logic were developed specifically for this project.
Exposed Vertical Geometry
All battens were visible. There were no trim covers or joint masking elements. Spacing and alignment had to remain consistent across the entire installation.
In linear interior architecture, millimeter deviations become visually amplified.
Interior Climate Conditions
Although protected from rain and UV exposure, the space experienced daily temperature variation from air-conditioning cycles. The timber required controlled moisture content to prevent shrinkage gaps or surface irregularities.
The Engineering
Timberline Modular System
Timberline was developed as a repeatable vertical batten system mounted to a concealed backing structure. Spacing guides were introduced to control alignment across a 500 m² surface and reduce on-site variability.
Controlled Material Preparation
Gmelina was kiln-dried to interior moisture targets before fabrication to reduce shrinkage and post-installation movement. Each batten was milled to consistent profile depth and edge definition to maintain clean vertical rhythm.
Concealed Fixing Logic
Battens were mechanically fixed to a hidden support frame using calculated fixing intervals to prevent long-term deflection. The fixing strategy maintained stable attachment without visible fasteners or surface distortion.
The Products and Materials
The Results and Insights
Interior Precision Achieved
The installation maintained consistent vertical alignment and spacing across long wall spans, achieving the linear architectural clarity required by the design intent.
Species Validation for Commercial Interiors
The project confirmed that kiln-dried Gmelina can perform reliably as a precision architectural timber system within Jakarta’s air-conditioned commercial environments.
Long-Term Dimensional Stability
Since completion in 2017, no visible alignment distortion, shrinkage gaps, or surface irregularities have been reported under normal office operating conditions.
Operational Baseline Established
The fabrication controls, moisture calibration, and installation sequencing developed in this project became the foundational standard for Woodlam’s later architectural and engineered timber systems across Indonesia.
Location
South Jakarta, Indonesia
Jl. Bangka Raya No.18C 4 Pela Mampang, Mampang Prapatan DKI Jakarta,12720 INDONESIA
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question unanswered? Speak to our team.
What is an interior timber batten system?
An interior timber batten system consists of vertically or horizontally aligned timber sections fixed to a concealed backing structure. It is used to create texture, shadow depth, and spatial definition within commercial interiors. In this project, the system was engineered for repeatable spacing, concealed fixing, and long-run alignment across large wall surfaces.
Why was Gmelina selected for this commercial interior?
Gmelina offers good machinability and consistent surface finishing when kiln-dried properly. The project tested whether locally sourced Gmelina could meet precision and durability requirements for commercial interior architecture.
How is dimensional stability controlled in interior timber systems?
Timber is kiln-dried to controlled interior moisture levels prior to fabrication to reduce internal movement. Milling tolerances are calibrated to maintain consistent profile geometry, and calculated fixing intervals limit movement caused by minor temperature fluctuations in air-conditioned environments.
Is Timberline limited to interior use?
No. While this project applied Timberline indoors, the modular batten system can be adapted for exterior applications when proper species selection, ventilation detailing, and moisture protection strategies are integrated.