PROTELINDO

Nestled on the 49th floor of a prestigious office tower within Jakarta’s prominent area of Thamrin, Protelindo is the nation’s largest owner and operator of telecommunication towers. The completed 2000-square-meter office is a part of the company’s expansion to accommodate its rapid growth in recent years. Responding to the design brief for a distinctive separation of workspace and circulation area to maintain privacy and strict confidentiality of each department, a circular main corridor is introduced and interconnected to all departments as a set of network. The series of spatial experience starts upon the arrival in the dark yet contrast lobby, illuminated by the seemingly floating reception counter and stools. The main corridor itself is conceived to reflect and define the identity of the company which draws inspiration from the repetitive structural frames of telecommunication towers. Mirror-cladded on one side of the wall and the ceiling, the frames are highlighted by strip lighting and respectively form a tunnel-like space. Walking around this corridor gives a gleeful glimpse of one’s perspective of looking up the tower, with a futuristic and mysterious element to it. The overall space is composed largely of grey monochromatic palette to allow concentration and focus, with additional shades of blue on the furniture as a reflection of the brand colour and to evoke a more relaxed ambiance. Extending the continuity of the geometric frame, repetitive patterns adorned with strip lightings are applied on the floor, walls, and ceiling of west meeting rooms, together with cantilevered tables finished in stainless steel creating a sci-fi nuance. In the eastern zone, the prayer room maintains the continuity but clad with carpet to provide a solemn and contemplative space. Meanwhile, this continuity is reduced to floor and ceiling geometric patterns in director offices to balance and frame the generous view of the northern skyline. More serene and simpler in its appearance, each department is mostly composed of manager offices and an open-plan staff workspace. Divisions within are spatially distinguished by the use of different materials which vary from grey concrete to charcoal paint and linear lighting. Continuing to the flexible dining hall, the repetitiveness is reduced further to evoke a more casual and relaxing ambiance, providing break-out space and communal area. In a theatre-like setting, the stage seatings are seemingly wrapped by a concrete sheet, whereas the formal configurations are framed in charcoal tone to elevate the presence of the immense view. The delicate juxtaposition of private and less private space within this office prompts rich visual and spatial experience, which eventually generates the way users or visitors interact with others, whether intentionally or coincidental.