STRUCTURE

The Lawang Sewu complex consists of two buildings; buildings A and B and C and D, facing Jalan Pemuda. Building A faces the Tugu Muda roundabout. There are two twin towers in building A that were originally used to store water, each with a capacity of 7,000 liters (1,800 US gal). The building has large stained glass windows and a large staircase in the center. There is an underground passage below the building. Building B is located behind building A, three stories high with the first two floors consisting of offices and the third being an attic. This building with large windows also has an underground passage that functions as a water channel. In front of the building stands Tugu Muda to commemorate the Five-Day Battle that happened on October 15-19 1945 in Semarang.

Prof. Jakob F. Klinkhamer and B.J. Ouendag, architects from Amsterdam, designed the structure of Lawang Sewu. Their work is known for its use of curved and simple components. The building occupies a design which resembles the shape of the letter L and has a lot of windows and doors used for ventilation. People started to name it "Lawang Sewu," which translates to "a thousand doors," because of the great number of doorways.

As a complement to the building's unique design, Johannes Lourens Schouten manufactured the stained glass ornaments in Lawang Sewu. Stories about the prosperity and splendor of Java, the Dutch authority over Semarang and Batavia, marine cities, and the achievements of the railway are portrayed in the stained glass. Additional features on Lawang Sewu contain bronze-decorated spire, a small copper-covered dome on top of the water tower, and ceramic ornaments on the curved section above the balcony.