Jamu Jago Building at Jl. Ki Mangun Sarkoro Semarang

Pictures are shown in this posting are captured about more than two years ago. Un-intentionally, I suddenly found the appearance of this Jamu Jago Building when I was visiting a car part shop in Ki Mangun Sarkoro Street near Kampung Kali area. Please also note, currently there are another street that named with similar name of Jl. Ki Mangun Sarkoro in Semarang City which is situated more closer to Simpang Lima area.

This building is situated just almost directly in front of the shop. Its appearance always remind somebody with Art Deco style. I guess the building style is similar to Pertamina Building at Bodjong street and GKBI Building at old city area, particularly in related with the appearance of its prominent rectangular tower at building corner side. 

According to the company website, it is claimed that the company is already established on 1918, but not clearly mentioned about detailed time when this building itself is built. As seen on the pictures, the building looks as a two-storey building with flat roof with white painted walls. Aged wooden louvered windows are painted in turquoise color. There are a neighboring two-storeys building with clay roof with similar white and turquoise colors. It looks like a building with similar age, but I have no information if the building is belong to the same company.

Remaining Old Houses at Pandanaran Street (part-1)

These two pictures are taken five years ago. Nowadays, building appearances are already changed. Actually, Pandanaran Street known as a fast growing commercial and business area in the middle of Semarang City. There are some new building are emerging and vice versa some another building are gone. At least this building is still found on its place, and known as one of some remaining old houses are found and well-preserved.

During my youth I recognized this building as a private university. And when I was visiting Semarang several years ago, I was also experiencing this building as a food retail, before it closed and changed to another function. I passed the street in front of this building last month, and I found it just as an un-occupied building.

Pasar Jatingaleh, an Old Marketplace at Semarang Upper Hill Area

These pictures of Pasar Jatingaleh are taken during the year of 2011. It was very difficult to take ideal angles, particularly when I was trying to capture the exeterior view of this old market building. Front exterior view is taken from crossing bridge landing that is currently gone and demolished because of the underpass road project currently on progress.

Even this picture only captured the typical flat roof of the building and its protruding octagonal skylight structure. Rest of the front facade are blocked with signages, existing big trees, vendor mobile kiosks, and so on. At the other side, most of building sides are covered with new masonry wall. We also could not even identify its original old building shape.

Actually, this marketplace building is situated in a prominent crossroads area, but not everybody can directly find this spot if we are not already familiar with this old market place before. Only when we are enetring the marketplace, we can feel a distinctive character of this building. Of coures that are the shape of the octagonal mushroom columns and the octagonal skylight structures. 

These details remind us with Pasar Johar building at Semarang, the famous old landmark from Dutch Colonial Era in the center of Semarang City. And this Pasar Jatingaleh building is known as mini version of the Pasa johar buidling. Many historian sources  have mentioned that this Pasar Jatingaleh building is also design by same Dutch Architect who designed Pasar Johar building.

This old market building is originally planned as and integrated part with new old upper hill area during Dutch Colonial area that is famously called as Candi Baru or "Nieuw Tjandi". And traditional market activities are still running until today in this building that is mainly involving residents who live in surrounding traditional compounds.

Snapshot of "Ende Desespereert Nimmer's House" at Ungaran

First time I saw this building, I was impressed with its large green front courtyard where the boys were playing football in an afternoon day. The building could be directly recognized when somebody passing the Ungaran main street. A question the raised, what kind old big building was stand behind the large courtyard? And finally, during long holiday on 2014 I have an opportunity to visit this place. And I have marked this place in a google maps link here https://www.google.co.id/maps/@-7.1190445,110.410433,165m/data=!3m1!1e3. And from Google Map data, I found that this old big building commonly known as "Gedung Kuning" or "Yellow Mansion".

 

  

The building is about more than 100 meters setback against the main street. The distance provide somebody with a feeling of visual and spatial processions before approaching the building. I guess this is a two-storey building with many nice open terraces at both lower and upper floor levels. The open terraces orientations are set-up in different direction of views.

 

I think I have found a signage plate that is placed on front wall near main entry. This signage plate mentions that the building is owned by Indonesian Railway Company (PT Kereta Api Indonesia) a government owned company. And also mentioned in the signage plate that previously this building is identified as railway station building. But, I think I could not find any remaining railways are found around the building.

Another text signage are found and placed on the wall at upper terrace that facing to south direction.  I found text mentioning " 1916 - Ende Desespereert Nimmer - 1916", this is a white color color text within sky blue color background. 

Is the year 1916 indicating the year when this mansion is built? I found information in the internet sources that mentioning "Ende Desespereert Nimmer", and it was a name of Dutch football club in past time around the year of 1910.

Snapshot of Formerly Fort Willem II at Ungaran

This building is situated in the center of Ungaran city, a small hill city at south side of Semarang City. It situated directly beside of the main city street. It could be the iconic one. Currently, the building is functioned as Public Meeting Hall that managed by local Police Authority. When I was coming here in the year of 2014, I can freely entering the site to take some pictures.

There was a sculptural bronze wall mural placed near the entry gate. This sculptural bronze mural showing a figure of a person, as mentioned in carved text below the figure, his name is William Baron Van Imhoff. And an indication of years is carved below the figure, the text below the name, mentioning the year of 1743 - 1750. I think seven years was time duration when William Baron Van Imhoff was served as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.

Most likely, the fort is built around that years. A particular source mentioned that the fort was built several years after 1750, but another historical notes also mentioned that the fort was initially built long before 1743.

A pair of strong wooden door leaves are placed at the center of the fort underneath of a main viewing tower within a pair of old vintage cannons. There are some cannons also found at each far corner sides at upper floor decks. After entering this main entry door, somebody can directly find a central open court in the middle of the fort. There also found double space long and narrow corridors that ended-up to wooden stairs at both end sides of the fort. This long narrow corridor are connected with void opening to promote natural daylight that comes from observation alleys at upper floor.

A large hall room is situated at upper floor. An open space enough for large gathering with natural dark wooden flooring, white masonry wall and louvered wooden windows. This hall is accessible from perimeter alleys which is connected with timber bridge at back side of the fort building. Generally, the fort looks well preserved. Despite it currently use in different function as originally is. At least a visitor can still experiencing a memorable place where Dutch Colonial authority ever control this land and its surrounding areas for several hundred years ago.

An Old House in front of Centrale Burgerlijke Ziekeninrichting Semarang

When we pass through the main street in front of Semarang General Hospital (also known as Centrale Burgerlijke Ziekeninrichting or CBZ during Dutch Colonial Era), we can directly find an old house. This house is situated on a cliff in front of the Hospital. 

Just a simple old clay roofed house with particular detail on its facade. There is an interesting protruding multifaceted window module at upper floor level. I'm just imagining if I'm sitting on a lounge inside this protruding space, I will have great views to the Hospital building complex and an old neighborhood church nearby.

Main entry belong to this house is placed in a discreet location, it seem intentionally concealed against the main street and surrounded by lush trees. A Hill called as 'Gunung Sawo' is situated directly behind this house.I think we can follow a small road up the steep hill - in  front of the neighborhood church at streets intersection - to reach this house.

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.

Snapshots to "de Javasche Bank" Building

Based on historical notes, the building is already existed in the year of 1927 during Dutch Colonial Era. This is another building have designed by Thomas Karsten, a well-known Dutch Architect who designed many famous colonial buildings in Semarang City. Many years ago, Semarang citizen have recognized this building as Bank Indonesia, an Central Bank Institution owned by the Indonesian government. The building ever known also as government's archive building. Nowadays, this building is known as "Bank Jateng" Building, a regional Bank Institution owned by Central Java Government.

This building is situated at eat-end side of Bodjong Street (today is known as Pemuda Street) near Semarang Central Post Office Building. Building orientation is facing to the east where "mBerok Bridge" is situated nearby, and it makes the building looks more prominent from the direction of Old City Conservation Area.

The building itself is simply identified by the existence of its tower beside of main building block with its clay roof structure in triangular prism shape. Windows arrangement is simply generates vertical strip patterns on building facade. I think we can also see some other old buildings in Semarang are found in this similar style.

Snapshot to an old building at 'Zwaluwstraat'

This is just a simple snapshot to an old building at south-end side of Branjangan Street, a street inside Old City Conservation Area. It is situated in a T-intersection street in front of another old building I have described in my older blog post dated 3rd of May 2011. This building is also situated nearby another old building currently known as Telkom MSC Office Building, which is located in Letjen Soeprapto Street ( or known also  as Heerenstraat during Dutch Colonial Era). A historical source mentioned that this building originally known as Dunlop-Kolff-Makelaars, a trading company in related with sugar, rice, kapok, effects, etc.

It about less than a hundred meters from this building we can find another famous old building at Branjangan Street which is called "Roode Driehoek" House. Obviously, the remaining upper facade is becoming interesting part belong to this building. Curved pediment are combined with six vertical louvered windows at top facade. Lower facade is consisting of remaining wooden tall windows that are covered with light metal roofing with wrought iron brackets. Extended columns in simplified 'obelisk' shape are another elements that visually unify the lower and the upper part of the building facade

A Snapshot to an Old House at the 'Outstadt'

This posting is just simply highlighting a two storey old house in a T-instersection street at currently known as Garuda Street City at Semarang Old City Conservation Area. It situated about less than 100 meter in front of the House of Roode Driehoek at Branjangan Street. This house is facing to the South and located directly in front of the "Borsumij" Warehouse building.

The upper part looks interesting within its protruding 'close-to-close' glass windows arrangement which are framed with light wooden frames. Meanwhile, the lower part of the house consists of 3 (three) main full-height double doors where 2 (two) doors are covered under an overhung roof. Seemingly, it was defining a two separated different functions between the lower floor and upper floor belong to the this old building. Another one smaller door is placed at west end side.

The upper part looks visually lighter in appearance by the existence of dominant glass windows and wooden wall cladding and the lower part looks stronger by the appearance of solid brick wall. Wild vegetation are already grown and consuming the upper part of the house. How long will this old house survive?

The House of "Roode Driehoek"

This is an old small building which is located in a T-intersection street in the middle of Semarang Old City Conservation Area. Maybe this one of a famous spot where peoples use it as distinctive photo background for their pre-wedding pictures or photograph memories during their trip around Semarang City. The photograph pictures then will tell the story as if they were standing in front of a building in a city in Netherlands.

The main point of interest belong to this house is the "Roode Driehoek" text as a facade signage over an arch entry door transom. So far, there is not many historical references could not be found to explain what does the word of "Roode Driehoek" should mean. Is this could be freely translated as 'Red Triangle'? Is the meaning of 'Red Triangle' is associated with war and political term that used in Europe during World War II ?

"The Peek House" at 'Achterkerkstraat'

With reference to some historical notes, this building originally known as Kantoor Tasripin. Tasripin was one of the Indonesian richest people in the beginning of the 20th Century. Nowadays, this building known as Peek House. Peek House is situated at about 100 meter north-east of Blenduk Church or 360 meter south of Tawang Train Station. The building is situated at Garuda Street, this is street was known as Achterkerkstraat during Dutch Colonial Era that connecting Merak Street (Norder-wall-Straat) near Tawang Train Station to Letjen Suprapto Street (Heerenstraat). The building also accessible from a small branch street near The Spiegel's House.

Peek House itself not directly facing to the main street. Peek House main entry is accessible from a small branch street. Actually, it makes Peek House entry slightly concealed from any point of main pedestrian area.This is a two-storey building with a series of tall wooden windows with transoms as main elements to its facade. A long narrow balcony is situated at building entry side facing to south. Stainless steel balustrade and outdoor A/C units are poorly placed at this balcony level.

Previously, the building is functioned as a private art gallery. It seems not many art exhibitions were happened here. Nowadays, even though the building looks well preserved, it often looks like an empty building with many windows and main entry door remain closed from day to day.

An Old Neighborhood Building behind the Spiegel's House

 

Just a series of snapshots to an neighborhood old building behind the Spiegel's House during an afternoon day. This building is identified as a house number 12A, currently situated between Garuda and Kedasih Street, not far from the "Peek House".

 

This is a two-storeys building with rich detailing on upper floor facade with red brick work arches, wooden transoms, ornamental metal brackets and small balcony. It seem the wrought iron brackets are remaining parts belong to the lost overhung structures that originally covered the windows. The building looks well-preserved, even though its actually located across a 'slum' houses and directly located behind the famous unpreserved Spiegel's House.

Awaiting Lost Tower to be Rebuilt for "de Cultuur Maatschappij der Vorstenlanden MV" Building

First time I took picture of this building was two years ago, where the south-end side tower belong to this building is already lost. It was documented in my blog post dated 18 January 2011. One year after that, I saw the main roof in the middle part of the building is partially collapsed. It was great when I took visit to this building on he year of 2012, this old building was initially revitalized. Many bamboo scaffolding are installed around the building.

The building of PTP-XV - originally known as Cultuur Maatschappij der Vorstenlanden MV. - is one of old Dutch Colonial building at Semarang old city conservation area.  When we stand over the mBerok River bridge, we can always see this building in very prominent appearance. 

Some of old buildings in Semarang City are already gone, and it is great to see some of them are recovered from severed damages. And now we are waiting, will the old lost collapsed tower will be recovered again? Only time will tell......

Old Red Brick Architecture at Gedangan Street

Today, the old Gedangan Street is known as Ronggowarsito Street. The North-end section of this street is mostly surrounding by swamp. Meanwhile the 300 meter long of the South-end side of this street is look specific in its appearance by the existence of prominent old red brick buildings at both sides of the street. When we take a walk pass through this street, it feel like we walk at city in Northern Europe within its famous old buildings with red brick Gothic Architecture or red brick Romanesque Architecture style.

 Old Gedangan Church or currently known as St Joseph Church is situated at eastern side of the street. Meanwhile, Kanisius Foundation Complex is situated at the opposite western side. Both two buildings appear in similar style of red brick architecture. Based on history notes, Gedangan Church is initially built in the year of 1870 by Dutch Catholic Priest. It look well preserved for more than 140 years and become a city landmark in Semarang City, particularly in North part of the city.