Bank Indonesia (Jalan Batang Arau 60)
Built
in 1830, this building is the former “De Javasche Bank”. Nowadays it is
still used as a bank, a branch of the Bank Indonesia. The pyramid roof
shape is a characteristic of colonial Dutch buildings in Indonesia.
While the roof coverings of many other colonial buildings have been
changed to tin sheets, the roof of the former “De Javasche Bank” is
still covered with tiles. The windows are narrow but high which improved
wind circulation and cooled down the interior. Also the windows on the
top of the building served for ventilation purposes.
This
catholic cathedral was built in 1933 and has a gothic art deco
architecture with curve windows. It is still in its original shape and
well maintained, but suffered considerably during the 2009 earthquake.
Frater Huis (Jalan Khairil Anwar 12)
In
1911, the Apostolic Prefecture of Sumatra was separated from Jakarta
and became an own diocese in 1962. The “Frater Huis”, built in 1923 as a
monastery for monks, is now the seat of the Bishop of Padang. The
building is well maintained and renovated according to the original
architecture.
Maria School & Mariana Kindergarten (Jalan Tangsi 33)
In
the same complex of the catholic cathedral and the bishop’s office but
on Jalan Tangsi, other colonial buildings can be found, which serve as a
religious secondary school and kindergarten, managed by the Prayoga
Foundation, which is historically linked to the diocese Padang.
Gedung Joang 45 (Jalan Samudra 8)
During the times of Dutch colonialism and especially since the middle of the 19
th
century, many German entrepreneurs settled down and opened a business
in Sumatra. This building served as the German chamber of commerce. The
Baumer family were the last German inhabitants of Padang at the time of
independence. Today, the building serves as a museum depicting old
pictures of the war of independence. The building was kept in its
original shape, except for a Minang-style roof above the entrance that
has been added.
Port of Padang (River Front, Jalan Batang Arau)
Most of the buildings along the Batang Arau River were built in the late 19th and early 20th
century and used as warehouses, trade company offices, stores and
houses. Some of them show a classical Dutch façade and pyramid roof,
others are of mixed Dutch and Chinese architecture styles.
Chinese Shophouses
(along
Jalan Niaga) Many of the heritage houses in Jalan Pasar Hilir, Pasar
Mudik, Niaga as well as Pondok were built around 1930 and used as
textile shops. They are good examples of classical Straits Chinese
shophouses, also found in cities such as Melaka and Penang in Malaysia
as well as in Singapore.
Chinese Temple
(Jalan Kalenteng 321)
Chinese
traders arrived in Padang under Dutch rule and settled in the harbour
region, now known as Padang’s Chinatown. After the original temple, made
of wood, burnt down completely, the Chinese built a new temple in 1861,
showing both Straits Chinese and Dutch elements. The main temple is
located in the heart of what is now referred to as “Chinatown” and was
built by experts from China, using imported building material from
China. It has three rooms: the main room in the middle, the meditation
room on the right and the administration office on the left. Built as
the “Hoet Tjo Temple” during Dutch colonial times, later changed to “See
Hin Kiong”, it is now renamed as “Vihara Tri Dharma” and features mixed
Buddhist and Taoist elements typical for Chinese spirituality.
Old
Chinese graveyards can be found on the other side of the Batang Arau
River. Cross Siti Nurbaya Bridge, and take the first path to the right
after the bend of the bridge. Start climbing the hill. The graves are on
the hill foot.
Masjid Raya Ganting (Jalan Ganting 3)
Masjid
Raya Ganting is the oldest mosque in Padang and was built in 1815.
There possibly was a small praying room dating back to 1775 before the
construction of Mesjid Raya Ganting. It has been extended and renovated
several times and now displays a mixed European and Indonesian
architectural style, which is unique in Indonesia. The Indonesian style
can be seen in multi-level roof, while the external walls and doors are
of European architectural style. The 25 pillars in the main hall
represent the 25 prophets of Islam and their names are written on the
pillars. In 1900 the floor of the mosque was renovated with tiles,
imported by the “Jacobson van den Berg” company from the Netherlands. In
1910 the “Waqaf Fund” of local Muslim merchants was used to build the
front part of the mosque.
Masjid Muhammadan (Jalan Pasar Batipuh 19)
This
mosque was built in 1923 by Muslim Indian traders originally from
Keeling, who inhabited the area, which was then called Kampung Keling.
According to the legends, a Muslim inhabitant of Kampung Keling used to
fish in the Batang Arau river every day. He then used the place now
occupied by the mosque as a location for praying every evening, hence
that place was thought to be suitable for a mosque. Before building the
mosque on that spot, however, there used to be a rest place. Today the
mosque is and is still used as a place of worship. Originally made of
wood, it has been renovated and modified several times during history
and is now a concrete building. The building is highly influenced by
Indian architectural styles.
Padang Municipal Hall
(Jalan M. Yamin 57)
Built
in 1931, this building was used as the central government’s office of
the Dutch in Padang, the “Gemeente Huis”. Several times the Dutch
government of Padang tried to expand their municipal hall, but always
failed due to a lack on money. Only in 1936 did they succeed to finish
the consruction of their “Gemeente Huis”. Today this building still
serves as the municipal hall of Padang. The building has a tower with a
clock, typical for some European city halls. The building has not been
modified on the exterior.
(Jalan Batang Arau 33)
For
its characteristic art-deco ornamentals on the façade, this building is
a particularly nice example of Dutch neo-classical colonial
architecture. It was erected in 1908 and used as the head office of the
“Padangsche Spaarbank”, a commercial bank. Later it was used as a branch
of BTN (an Indonesian bank), before being renovated in 1992. From 1995
till 2008 it was used as a hotel and since then serves no more purpose.
NV Internatio Building
This
building was erected in 1910 by the NV Internatio trade company using a
neoclassical style, typical for this period. Today it serves as a
warehouse of the company Cipta Niaga.
St. Leo’s Church (Jalan Gereja 32)
This
catholic church was built in 1903 and is part of a church and monastery
complex. In front of the church stands the “SD Agnes” building,
formerly a monastery for nuns, who used the church for their prayers.
Today, the monastery is used as the “Agnes Elementary School”. The
neoclassical as well as art deco architecture of most of the buildings
in the SD Agnes complex has not been changed from its original.
Unfortunately the 2009 earthquake destroyed most of the complex.
Surya Sakti Office & Warehouse (Jalan Batang Arau 72)
This
warehouse has a characteristic Dutch art deco façade, brought to
Indonesia in the 19th century. The original purpose of this building is
not known, but most probably it was used as a warehouse of a trade
company as most other buildings facing Batang Arau River. It is believed
that this is one of the oldest Dutch heritage houses in Padang, dating
back to the 19th century, but the year of its construction is not known.
Panca Niaga Warehouse (Jalan Batang Arau 58)
This
is the biggest Dutch heritage building of Padang and unique in its
shape. It was the Padang headquarter of the “Nederlandsche
Handel-Maatschappij”, the national Dutch trade company which replaced
the previous VOC (“Vereenigte Oostinische Compagnie”). The trade comapny
“Geo Wehry & Co”, whose name can still be seen on the eastern wall,
was also in this building. The year of construction is not known. On
the eastern and western side of the building some motives in the shape
of sunrays and a small ventilation windows can be found. For its
neo-classical and art deco ornamentals it is believed that the year of
construction is around 1900. Today it serves as a warehouse of the Panca
Niaga company.
Yatim & Zainun Family Building
(Jalan Pasar Malintang 2-10)
This
house was built in 1902 and was formerly used as a Dutch school, later
as a batik shop and multi-family residential house (each family lived in
one of the separated compartments). It is a very nice example of Dutch
colonial architecture, but has become a ruin. It’s neither used nor
renovated or maintained.
Railway Station (Jalan Pulau Air)
The
former “Bimpang Railway Station” was built in 1887 as the first railway
station of Sumatra and was mainly used to transport coal from
Sawahlunto to the port of Padang. Today it’s called “Stasiun Pulau Air”
and is neither used nor maintained.
Traditional Padang Malay House
(Jalan Ranah Binuang 20)
There
are not many old non-Dutch and non-Chinese houses within the city
limits of Padang. This traditional Malay house was built around 1800.
It’s made from wood and shows the typical shape of a Malay house, except
for its entrance (the stairs leading to the terrace). The pillars are
cylinder shaped with a vertical line relief on the upper part.
Gudang Minang Caissa (Jalan Batang Arau 50)
This
building is one of the most recently renovated. The original shape was
mostly maintained and only a few changes have been made. Its roof is
still covered with tiles and it has a typical Dutch colonial façade and
quadratic pillars to sustain the arcade. The age of the building is not
known.
Kerta Niaga Office
(Jalan Batang Arau 44 & 46)
This
building, formerly belonging to the “Bersumy Wehry” company and used as
a warehouse or storage room, has not been modified except for the roof
covering, which is now tin. It has not been maintained or renovated. The
year of construction is not known, but most probably before 1910.
Deli Agung Patria
(Jalan Batang Arau 34)
For
its balconies, this building was most probably a residential house
(first floor) and warehouse (ground floor) for several families. It was
built in 1910 using a mix of Dutch, Malay and Straits Chinese styles,
has not been renovated or modified and is still covered with tiles.
Today it’s used as a warehouse deposit.
Chinese Shophouses (Jalan Pasar Hilir 2-22)
The
houses along Jalan Pasar Hilir were built in 1930 and mostly served as
both residential houses and textile shops. Numbers 2 to 22 together form
a complete, original and not renovated façade in 11 similar parts,
which were inhabited by 11 different families. The residential part was
on the first floor, the shop on the ground floor.
Cement Distributor (Jalan Pasar Hilir 26-28)
This
building was erected in 1913 in a typical colonial Dutch architectural
style and originally served as a grocery store. Now it is owned by a
cement producing company and is used as warehouse. With the exception of
the windows, the building is not renovated and still in its original
shape.
Hotel Nagara
(Jalan Pasar Mudik 22-24)
Built in 1918 as two different residential houses, they now combined serve as a hotel.
Japanese Military Heritage (Padang Hill)
Around
Padang Hill there are several Japanese tunnels, built as bunkers and
forts during the Second World War in 1943. On the top of Padang Hill a
Japanese cannon can be found.
