Lawang Sewu

Lawang Sewu, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

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Lawang Sewu is a building in Semarang, Central Java, which is the headquarters of the Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij or NIS. Built in 1904, and was completed in 1907. Located in the former Young Monument roundabout called Wilhelminaplein.

Local people call it the Lawang Sewu (a thousand Doors) because the buildings have doors which very much. In fact, there is a door that is not up to a thousand. The building has a lot of window height and width, so that people often think of it as the door (Mace).

The ancient buildings and the majestic two-story after independence was used as the Office of the railway Djawatan Repoeblik Indonesia (DKARI) or the train now PT Indonesia. In addition it was used as the Office of The military region Command Infrastructure (Kodam IV/Diponegoro) and regional offices (Regional Office), the Ministry of transportation in Central Java.

At the time of the building's struggle has its own history entry when the event took place a battle five days in Semarang (14 October-21 October 1945). The old building became the site of a great battle between the Forces of youth or Young AMKA Rail against the Kempetai and Kidobutai, Japan. Therefore the Government of the city of Semarang with Mayoral Decree number. 650/50/1992, embodying Lawang Sewu as one of 102 old buildings or historic in Semarang city should be protected.

Currently the old building has undergone a revitalization and conservation phase done by units of the preservation of historic buildings, objects and Train Persero, PT

The History Of Building Lawang Sewu

Lawang Sewu is one historic building that was built by the colonial Government of Netherlands, on February 27, 1904. The building was originally built for use as Het Hoofdkantoor, Nederlansch van de Indische Spoorweg Maatscappij (NIS) or the headquarters of the private Railway Company NIS. Office administration activities previously conducted at Samarang Station NIS NIS.

But the growth of the railways network quite rapidly, by itself requires the addition of the number of technical personnel and the Administration section which does little with increasing activity offices. One of the consequences of Office Manager at Samarang NIS to be no longer adequate. NIS also rented several buildings belonging to the individual as a temporary way out. However it is considered inefficient.

Not to mention the existence of the location of the NIS Samarang Station is located in the swamps to the Affairs of the sanitation and health has become important considerations. Then it was decided to establish the Office of administration in the new location. The choice fell to the land which at that time was on the edge of town adjacent to the residence of a Resident.

It is located at the tip of Bodjongweg Semarang (now Jalan Pemuda), meeting at the corner of Bodjongweg and Samarang naar Kendalweg (Highway to Kendal). NIS entrusted the design of building the headquarters of NIS in Semarang to Prof. Jacob f. Klinkhamer (TH Delft) and B.J. Ouendag, architects, a company based in Amsterdam. The entire design process was carried out in the country Netherlands, only then the drawings were brought to the city of Semarang.

Viewed from the blueprint Lawang Sewu is written that the site plan and building floor plan has been drawn at Amsterdam in 1903. So is the completeness of the picture it works created and be signed in Amsterdam in 1903.