Lindeteves-Stokvis Building (Bank Mandiri)

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The Lindeteves-Stokvis Building stands on Jalan Pahlawan in Surabaya’s historic district. It was built in 1911 for the Lindeteves Stokvis company and designed by the architectural practice of Hulswit, Fermont and Eduard Cuypers. Its most recognizable feature is a tall white clock tower topped with a red-tiled roof. Surabaya’s municipal archives report that the analogue clock is still working. The building now houses a Bank Mandiri branch, so it is an operating bank and a piece of the city’s historic architecture rather than a museum with a permanent exhibition. The exterior is best viewed from the street: the wider angle shows the long façade, red roofs, arched openings and tower, while a closer view brings out the clock and the ornament on the upper storey. The property sits where older streets meet the busy everyday traffic of Surabaya. It makes a short stop on a walk through the Old Town; there is no need to plan on entering the bank, and access to its premises depends on the branch’s operating arrangements. If you take photographs from the pavement, choose a safe spot and stay clear of traffic. The exterior may change during repairs or ordinary bank operations, but the clock tower remains the building’s clearest landmark.