An Abandoned Building at the East-end Side of Merak Street

The building is situated at the east-end side of Merak Street or at the opposite side of the Suara Merdeka Archive Building. It's about 300 meter from Suara Merdeka Archive Building or less than 200 meter from the exit gate of Tawang Railway Station nearby. Actually, this building is always easily visible by everybody who disembarks from railway station area and find the way to go the direction of the center of the city. The building is placed directly at the corner side of streets intersection across a large flood drainage pond in front of Tawang Railway Station.

But unfortunately, the building appearance is not found as good as its setting. the building looks very aged and mostly looks as an abandoned building with wild plants are already grown to cover its roof and many other parts of the building. It seems the building is started to be consumed by dense vegetation that grown from its backyard.

An old banner remind stays over the entry door under the balcony terrace and fortunately some texts still indicates that this building is former the management office of the Old City Conservation Area (BPK2L), a bureau that is ever founded to manage and revitalize Semarang Old City Conservation Area. The building is formerly a Dutch vocational school, known as De Technische School Semarang that is built 1917. 

"Praoe Lajar" Cigarette Factory Building at Merak Street

"Praoe Lajar" Factory Building and "Suara Merdeka" Building are situated side by side against each other at Merak Street. History mentions that this building is built on 19th Century. "Praoe Lajar" itself is an old trademark of a famous local cigarette, most probably one of the oldest cigarette manufacturer that is still exist today.

This building could be easily recognized by its appearance with a contrast color scheme, a contrast combination of white and red color. A linear red big facade signage clearly and simply describes the name of the building "Pabrik Rokok Praoe Lajar" ("Praoe Lajar" Cigarette Factory).



Building's main entry is located at the east-end side, at the streets intersection point that lead to Tawang Train Station at northern side and to center of Old City Conservation Area at southern side. The main entry is also differed with some rich detailing such as half-circle glass transom over balcony and rich stained-glass patterns with company logo.