An Old Big House at Jatingaleh Crossroads

This is just quick snapshots to a big prominent old house at Jatingaleh crossroads that is situated directly in front of a local traditional market as known as Pasar Jatingaleh. It seem two-storey house (maybe within an attic underneath roof) with main balcony is directly facing to the crossroads point. The balcony orientation is in a diagonal line against main building axis.

The balcony appearance is become visual and spatial marks to identify the existence of building main entry that is directly situated underneath it.

Most part of building facade is facing to the main old road at the western side. And other remaining part is facing to the new highway road at northern side. The balcony and the entrance are situated in between these parts.

A protruding living room alcove is found at upper floor level and become main facade element that is directly facing inline with the main Teuku Umar road. Seemimgly, it similar detail we can also found at some big old house facade that is situated in the side of a main road.

Some pictures are taken from the steel crossing bridge that is connecting pedestrian in front of this house to Pasar Jatingaleh. But today, this bridge is already removed and dismantled as an impact in related with the developmet of new underpass road nearby.

Masjid Sekayu, a Small Masjid in the Middle of Kampong in Semarang City

History notes mention that in the year of 1413 a small simple Masjid have already established on the site where Masjid At-Taqwa currently situated at Kampung Sekayu Semarang. The Masjid is founded by Kyai Kamal during his duty to collect good quality teak wood materials for development of Masjid Demak. Kyai Kamal himself was officially appointed by Sunan Gunung Jati of Cirebon to assist Raden Patah as King of Demak for the development of Masjid Demak.

The name of Kampung Sekayu itself is related with the site during Dutch Colonial Era was known as a place where teak wood raw materials from other towns near Semarang are temporary collected for further trading purposes.

Decorative crowns on main roof top and tower roof top are some of original parts from old Masjid could be retained. Other prominent parts that are retained from the original Masjid are the existence of 4 (four) teak wood pillars in the middle of the Masjid that are currently covered with other new layers of teak wood clad. The Masjid is now vertically expanded and a mezzanine floor is inserted behind double space hall where 4 wooden pillars are situated.

Nowadays, maybe not too easy to find this Masjid in the middle of dense urban  settlement under the shadow of new Mall Building in the center of Semarang City. The existence of its tower with unique decorative crown from the past time maybe can help somebody who trying to find the Masjid.

Jomblang Reservoir, and a Silhouette of a Dome on a Hill

Jomblang Reservoir is another remaining old clean water reservoir in Semarang that built during Dutch Colonial Era. Jomblang reservoir looks slightly bigger than The Siranda Reservoir. As similar as Siranda Reservoir, the building consist of two big domes.The appearance of the reservoir building is always visible as a silhouette of big dome with a cupola tower on Tanah Putih Hill.

The reservoir building is situated about 300 meter from 'Pasar Kambing Mrican' the goats market. The Jomblang Reservoir is part of Tanah Putih uphill road scenery. Always concealed under the lush big trees around Tanah Putih Hill.

Actually, the building appearance of Jomblang Reservoir is similar as the first older reservoir building belong to Siranda Reservoir. It also found at the Jomblang Reservoir same grass covered big domes, same small copula tower on the of the dome and also same entry facade. Anyway, the existence of these two old clean water reservoir buildings becomes one of the evidence that originally Semarang City is already well planned since almost hundred years ago.