An Old Building with Hot Red Lip Color

Nowadays, this building appears very prominent along "Letjen Soeprapto" Street, tha main street in the middle of Semarang Old City Conservation Area. In terms of shape, the building is generally a simple one, but the appearance of strong magenta-red color at lower half side of its facade obviously makes the overall building existence become an 'eye catching' object. I found from an online historical source that this building originally known as G.C.T. van Dorp & Co, Boekhandel en Drukkerijen, a bookstore and printing company.

This building and The ITC Building are placed side by side on the main street, but the entry facade is facing to "Branjangan" Street, an other small street. There is a interesting transition details when side facade of this building meets side facade of The ITC Building.

There are three round windows among typical rectangular windows around magenta-red color wall in the middle part of building side facade. Its combination with strong magenta-red color makes this old simple building visually appear more 'playful' in compare with surrounding old city atmosphere.

ITC Building, a Simply Contrast Neighborhood Building for "Blenduk" Church

The ITC (Indonesia Trade Center) Building is directly situated near the famous "Blenduk" Church and only separated by street. The building is also previously known as Gedung Kerta Niaga. This a simple old building in compare with surrounding neighborhood old buildings such as "Blenduk" Church and Gedung Jiwasraya. The building is a single block in a box shape with a feature tower, there is less and simple detailing on facade. This ITC Building supposed to be built at the latest period of Dutch Colonial Era. I have found a historical notes that this building originally known as Office building for Borsumij -
Borneo Sumatra Handel Maatschappij.

At a glance, the building composition that is consisting of box shape within a feature tower at the end corner of a crossroad is similar basic arrangement as Pertamina Building and "Toko Nagamas" at "Bodjong Street". Similar composition of shape is also found on the GKBI Building that is situated at the 'external' perimeter side of the old city conservation area.

Simple geometrical patterns are strongly reflected in horizontal and vertical patterns that are found on window, louvers and stone wall cladding. These shape arrangement is also elaborated with contrast color scheme that creates by vivid red colors on window frame members with grey plain wall as major background.

Gedung Jiwasraya, an Old Tall Building from Old City

Gedung Jiwasraya in one of old colonial building that is found in well-preserved conditions. The building is directly situated in front of the famous Semarang's Old ciy Icon: The "Blenduk" Church. These two old buildings are well set-up in the center of Semarang's Old City Consevation Area, particularly its relation with the existence of "Srigunting Park" as an open space nearby.

This is a building within a 'L-shape' layout scheme that is consisting of two wings where the eastern wing side is facing to "Blenduk" Church and northern wing side positioned in perpendicular line against "Blenduk" Church site. The eastern wing side is a three-storey building that is placed in a set-back position against the main street and the northern wing side is a two-storey building that is situated more closer to the main street.


The main entry is situated in an internal corner side in-between these two blcks of building and its position is elaborated with the existence of a big roof dome over. The 'L-shape' building configuration creates an internal open spaces and makes everybody who walks in front of the building can properly see the beauty and richness of building facade detailing.



Obviously, this building is another great works of Thomas Karsten, the Dutch Architect who is noted in the history as an Architect who also designed the famous Old Dutch Colonial Building in Semarang City. The building could be identified as the tallest building that prominently found in the middle of old city area. As mentioned in history notes, this might be related with its original function as an Old City Hall during Dutch Colonial Era.

Winkel Maatschapphij "H. Spiegel", a Remaining Old Retail Store at Semarang Old City Area

Just like other building at Semarang Old City Conservation Area, the building is situated directly on the street yard without any courtyard. The entrance is slanted at the corner side of the building, it seem placed in face to face situation against The Marba Building's entrance across the street. The entrance corner itself should be an elaborate entry corner with a balcony over the entrance door.



Despite the building conditions are looking aged, there are some old details are remaining visible on its facade. There is a combination of decorative pattern in round shapes and horizontal lines on the facade walls. At the upper floor level, windows that are situated in the middle of the building are surrounded with circular decorative brick works. Another round smaller patterns are found on the balcony balustrade over the main entry. It seem these circular patterns are provided to make contrast against the strong geometrical shape belong to the overall building shape.



As noted in the history based on Semarang Government's Official Website, this building is built on 1895 and originally owned by a Colonial Dutch Company: Winkel Maatschapphij "H. Spiegel". The building is originally is a retail store that related with office supplies such as typewriter machine, furniture and many others. Nowadays, the building is poorly remaining as a warehouse. There is an old small wind direction arrow on the roof top above the balcony that maybe is still on duty after hundred years pointing certain directions wherever wind blows around the old ground of Semarang City.

Gedung Marba; Red Brick Building Near The Old City Park

As mentioned on Semarang Government's Official Website, Marba is actually an acronym of somebody's name: "Marta Badjunet". He was an Arab Yemenite trader, a famous rich trader during Dutch Colonial Era who is known as the initiator of this building existence on the age of 19th century. This masonry facade signage is still remaining there, at the entry corner side of the building.


The Marba Building is situated in the corner of a crossroad and most of its facades are facing to the Srigunting Park across the road. The building looks prominent enough, maybe because the color of red brick facade and its rich facade details. Visually, the red brick facade provide a nice color contrast against its white facade architraves and pilasters details. I think the building is also nicely set-up because the existence of surrounding green trees both in pedestrian and in the park across the street.



The entry facade of this Marba Building is slightly facing in an angle to the location of ex. "Der Spiegel" Building that is currently found in poor condition. It is different situation found in Marba Building, that fortunately is still found in relatively well-preserved condition and become one of visual point of interest in the scenery setting of Semarang old city conservation area.

Srigunting Park; A Green Park with Four Old Tamarind Trees

'Srigunting' is a local name of a local bird with its 'scissors-like' tail. The park is currently is named with a bird name maybe because surrounding neighborhood small streets nearby are named with bird names. The park itself is like a small green oasis in the old city conservation area and situated directly near "Gereja Blenduk" site.


There are four big old tamarind trees that is shadowing this open park area and become a main green point of interest around "Gereja Blenduk" area. The open space that is created by the park provide adequate exposures that makes the old buildings around the park are properly visible in its best angle of views.



During Dutch Colonial Era, this park is known as Parade Plein. The park is previously revitalized by local authority and another future plans maybe prepared. for some changes. At least until today the remaining four old tamarind trees are still existed there. Nowadays, Srigunting Park with its old big trees is still give enough shadows and keep the center of old city conservation area condition in comfortably fresh and cool during hot days at Semarang City.

Gereja 'Blenduk'; Where The Sunset is Happened inbetween Its Silhouette and Lush Tamarind Trees

No doubt about this building - known as "Gereja Blenduk" (a local naming means a 'Domed' Church) - should be one of famous iconic buildings from the remaining old city of Semarang. Currently known as GPIB Immanuel Church, a Church that is situated in the middle of Semarang old city conservation area that is built during Dutch Colonial Era. Many literature sand publications have already highlighted the existence of this building, particularly in associated with its architectural detailed appearances.


Obviously, The Church is carefully planned and designed as main point of interest in the midlde of the area. It was existed as a stand-alone 'loose' building in a kind of a small city square that is surrounding in a distance by other buildings nearby. Until today, somebody can always take a walk freely around the Church and acquires every details belong to the building in every angle point of views. The Church is almost has many spatially well-managed exposures, it can be nicely viewed from every streets that are directing to Church location.


During afternoon time, somebody who seat in the park nearby can always experiencing a sunset moment, when the sun gradually setting-down from the lush of old tamarind trees to the west concealed skyline behind the shadow of the 'Blenduk' Church.