Lawang Sewu is a national-ranked cultural heritage building owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) located at Jalan Pemuda No.160 Komplek Tugu Muda, Semarang. Lawang Sewu was developed in stages by the private railroad company NISM (Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatscappij) as the NISM Corporate Headquarters. The first building that was erected was the guard house (building D), ticket printing (building C), and the main building (building A). The building was completed on July 1, 1907. Furthermore NISM built building B in 1916-1918 with reinforced concrete construction. Until now, Lawang Sewu has undergone several changes in function including the Riyuku Sokyoku Office (Japan Transportation Service) in 1942-1945, the DKARI Office (Indonesian Railway Department) in 1945-1946, Dutch Army Headquarters in 1946- 1949, Kodam IV Diponegoro in 1949-1994, and lastly changed its function as a museum of PT KAI (Persero) since 2011.
Before changing its function as a museum, PT KAI (Persero) had renovated Lawang Sewu in 2009. The restoration was carried out covering strengthening structures, repairing walls and plastering, to repairing ornaments. However, at present, the condition of Lawang Sewu has experienced cracks in the walls, peeling blankets, and some peeling floor tiles found in Building A and Building B Lawang Sewu (see Photos 1 and 2). Given these conditions, it is feared that the building structure is no longer safe / suitable according to the new function at this time as a public building / museum. To find out the actual condition of the Lawang Sewu building structure an evaluation of the strength of the building structure is needed, especially in Building A and Building B.
Therefore a full structural inspection needs to be carried out (Forensic Assessment includes NDT and DT Testing and Structural Analysis). It is very necessary to know the actual condition of each element in the building structure of Building A and Building B. The test conducted is a special examination in the form of a visual inspection, Non Destructive Test (NDT), Destructive Test (DT) and structure analysis based on the results of field data. PT Graha Survey Indonesia is assigned to conduct the inspection with the aim of evaluating the area by conducting an assessment and testing to be able to provide recommendations for proper handling.
The purpose of this inspection is to identify the actual condition of the Lawang Sewu Building structure. While the purpose of this activity is to get a picture of the actual condition of the structural capacity in the field.
The objectives of this activity are:
- Obtain information on the condition of building elements by conducting a visual inspection and special inspection,
- Get an evaluation of the results of building structure testing,
- Providing recommendations based on the results of engineering evaluations
