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.

Masjid Pekojan, an Old Masjid near a Chinese Quarter

Masjid Pekojan is one of some old Masjid in Semarang City that is hidden in the middle of a quarter. The Masjid is situated near a T-intersection street against the Pekojan main road that commonly known as part of Chinese quarter in Semarang City. From this main road the Masjid could be easily recognized by the existence of its light-green color tower.

Based on history notes, the Masjid is firstly built in the year of 1309 by some Muslim from Pakistan. Major renovation works are already made. Maybe only small part in the Masjid are originated from the past times such as wooden doors (currently painted in turquoise color), decorative transoms over doors and of course the lectern inside the mihrab that is made from teak wood. A number of old graves are also found underneath lush trees in the front courtyard near the main entry gate.

Snapshot to Remaining Chinese Old Houses at Pekojan and Kranggan

Semarang City is known for its large ethnically Chinese population, and Pekojan and Kranggan are district in Semarang City Chinese population is centralized since Dutch Colonial Era. Nowadays, as always found in typical 'China Town' we can find of common housing that is blended together within commercial and trading places.

In Pekojan and Kranggan area we can find remaining old houses with its unique gabled clay roof. Most of them are two-storey shop-houses where lower level is commonly used as trading space and upper level is commonly used as dwelling unit. Some of old houses remain untreated and may others are already converted to new shop-houses with new look.

Most of photographic pictures in this posting are taken around the north entry gate of Pekojan Street near Jurnatan Street and Pasar Johar market. Just a small part of Pekojan and Kranggan area, one of large Chinese quarter in Semarang City where we can find Chinese population preserve their culture and tradition.

Sanpshot to Old Houses at Tanjung Street Semarang

Tanjung Street is just an about 440 meter long street, a short street that connects the middle part of the famous "Old Bodjong Street" or currently known as Pemuda Street to Imam Bonjol Street (also known as Pendrikan Street in the past time). Tanjung Street itself during Dutch Colonial Era is known as Genielaan. This name of street is related with a Dutch military dormitory complex for combat engineering corps or commonly known as 'zeni' corps.

Nowadays, not far from Pemuda Street intersection we can find a row of remaining old houses, well-preserved old houses with unique facade appearances. These houses are easily identified within the appearance of its rich detailing on wooden roof fascia. These decorative fascia are floating in a distance against facade wall behind and then creating nice shadow on the white walls.

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.

An Old House on the Hill with Sea View Far Away

The house is situated on steep hill at Tanah Poetih hill street. Nowadays the street known as Wahidin Sudirohusodo Street, a transition street that connecting Semarang coastal plain area to Semarang hill city area. The house and its large courtyard is elevated on steep green hill. Somebody must take a long walk through a steep and long steps way before entering the verandah.

I remember during my childhood I ever stopped by on the pedestrian in front of this house. And I found stunning sea view within glimpse of big vessels floating on the sea. Imagine if I sit on a chair inside the verandah, may be I will nicely enjoy this stunning sea view better than I have found when I was standing on street pedestrian. When we open the Google Map and stretching a straight line from this house position to the beach line, we will find a certain distance about more than 10 kilometers.

Yes, it just a memory that comes from my childhood during 1970s. A memory from the past time when my grandfather took me on his grey colors Das Kleine Wunder (DKW) from the year of 1940s, an old mighty German made motor bike that could climbed steep hill street of Tanah Poetih. We stopped by at street pedestrian in front of this old house and pointing our fingers out to panoramic Semarang coastal plain area with blue-green Java Sea as a background. 

Jomblang Hill View

Pictures in this posting are taken around Jomblang-Candisari area where Jomblang Reservoir and Cantung Cemetery Hill are situated. Jomblang itself is an interesting area that comprises including a highland elevated area where dense settlement around steep Jomblang Hill side is located below the reservoir building and cemetery site. In this area we can find and experiencing a transition point between Semarang higher ground area and Semarang lower coastal plain area.

From the lower ground at the end of Mataram street we can see glimpse of lush frangipani trees that grow on Cantung cemetry hill with glimpse of of small copula tower belong to the reservoir building is found nearby. From the higher ground at 'slum' walkway around the 'kampung' settlement we can have wider view throughout most part of Semarang lower plain city area, including the emerging new apartment tower that will become the tallest building in Semarang City.

Around south-end side of Mataram Street, we can still find a remaining abandoned old big house facing to the commercial area across the street. An old house with large front courtyard that currently hidden behind messy temporary fenching and street vendor sheds. It seem a house came from the past time that typically is found and spread-out in some places in this city.

In my older blog posting I have mentioned about the goat market (pasar kambing) and Jomblang Reservoir; actually these two sites are situated not far from south-end side of Mataram Street and maybe becomes another 'hallmark' belong to the Jomblang Hill Area.