Sunday, November 3, 2013

Centrale Burgerlijke Ziekeninrichting; an Old General Hospital in Semarang City



During my childhood, I was hearing that my grand father described this hospital building as "CBZ", just a simple and short acronym. Now, I know that "CBZ" is and acronym of "Centrale Burgerlijke Ziekeninrichting", a Dutch term which is related with the function this building as Central Hospital in Semarang City. History noted that CBZ is founded on 1925 by Dutch Colonial Authority.


This Hospital is situated at north-end side of Kalisari Street or formally known as Dr. Sutomo Street. Bergota cemetery hill - the largest cemetery area in Semarang City - is situated directly behind the hospital complex. The hospital complex is still growing and the development of new building blocks to increase wards capacity and other modern medical treatment facilities.


I think the remaining original CBZ building parts are well preserved, and could be obviously found at its main formal entry gate area. A block of building with clay roof within some copula towers on the roof tops are found around this entry gate building. Visually, it look like simple combination of some building with different shapes of box, cube and cylinder under clay roofs. The entry building block itself, originally is the highest among the others within its different shaped tallest round copula on its roof top.