Figure 1. Map of Balige

The Existence of Onan Balerong Balige, Tobasa Regency

Morida Siagian

, Samsul Bahri

and Firman Eddy

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Keywords: Existence, Onan Balerong Balige, Social Space, Transformation.

Abstract: This paper describes Onan Balerong Balige that still exist until today. The phenomenon of the change of

lifestyle and space that accommodate the influx of modernisation into Balige becomes commercial space is

a threat for the existence of Onan Balerong. However, the integrity of the cultural value of Batak that

represented through the presence of Onan Balerong buildings and the local values of society Balige in their

everyday life are the power to maintain the existence of Onan Balerong Balige as the identity of Balige.

1 INTRODUCTION

Balige lies on the edge of Lake Toba (Figure 1). The

city does not only present the beauty of Lake Toba,

but it keeps a variety of charm in it. It was formed

officially in 1998 as part of Tobasa District and in

2004 was set to be the Tobasa Regency capital.

Geographically, Balige is a strategic area. It is

close to Harbor Balige, Silangit's International

Airport, and accessible from surrounding area in

Tapanuli.

In its history, in the past it was a center of the

Batak village. Some of the Batak clans are derived

from this area which now are spread around the

world. As one of origin areas of Batak people makes

it be known as "Bona Pasogit ". It has many King

Tomb of Batak clans, monuments, and old Batak

traditional villages. All strengthen the image as

hometown of Batak people. Today the population of

the area is dominated by Batak that live with their

principles and values of their Batak cultures.

This area is also known as a center of education

for its surrounding. In this place there are few good

schools, so families send their children to study to

this city. In this area, there is also health care

facilities, i.e. Balige Hospital.

Its strategic location makes Balige is also the

center of economical and trade activities. So that, the

existence of Onan Balerong Balige as a central

market complex in the city center is important since

the beginning of the city growth. It always crowded

by people especially on Onan Day. With its

architectural design , the complex of Onan Balerong

building become a landmark of Balige.

Onan Balerong exists in the city with the influx

of vulnerable Balige modern development. The new

stores, shops, tall buildings and developments are

certainly challenges against the existence of this

market. How can Onan Balerong Balige as a

traditional market maintain its existence until

recently. The paper will discuss this phenomenon.

2 TRANSFORMATION OF ONAN

BALERONG BALIGE

Onan Balerong Balige is a traditional market. It is

located on Jln. Sisingamangaraja, the main street of

Balige city. The complex consists of six buildings

with the traditional Batak Toba architecture. The

buildings have similar typology, with similar facades

and gorga. Originally, the buildings are open

without walls and have same materials, those are

made of wood and iron with natural material paint

and distinctive ornament colors of Batak Toba ethnic

(Figure 2).

254

Siagian, M., Bahri, S. and Eddy, F.

The Existence of Onan Balerong Balige, Tobasa Regency.

DOI: 10.5220/0010080802540257

In Proceedings of the International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches (ICOSTEERR 2018) - Research in Industry 4.0, pages

254-257

ISBN: 978-989-758-449-7

Figure 2 Onan Balerong Buildings

This building was bulit by the Dutch Colonial in

1938. The architect designed those as meeting halls,

entertainment centers and Batak Opera performance

center. But in 1942, the function later turned into a

traditional market. This happened through the desire

of the Batak kings who appointed Balerong as the

center of the market, because of its strategic location

in the city center. The accessible location from

surrounding area so make it easier for communities

to visit (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Location of Onan Balerong.

Figure 4 The Change of Onan Balerong Building.

In 1970, the market was developed, and

characterized by the presence of shops around the

Onan Balerong complex. The existence of these

buildings aim for tidiness and security markets.

Then in 1999 the management was taken over by the

Government to the sustainability of the market

(Siahaan, 2015).

Government adds infrastructure market in 2004

and does expand the market by building around 210

permanent kiosk in the 2 floor building on the back

side of Balerong. However the market does not yet

operate until today, although most of the kiosk are

already sold. The owners prefer sell on the sidewalk

and storefront. Last 2017 the city government did

maintenance of the six buildings of Onan Balerong

by using new material of paints which do not

comply to the original characteristics and the typical

of original design (Figure 4).

3 THE EXISTENCE OF ONAN

BALERONG AS A SPACE OF

LIFE

The existence of onan Balerong does not inspite of

the presence of activities of onan (market). It is

eagerly awaited by the community from surrounding

areas, even from Samosir Island. Balige entrants,

even by the nomads, atmosphere of onan sorely

missed.

The Existence of Onan Balerong Balige, Tobasa Regency

255

Figure 5 The Atmosphere of Onan Balerong Balige.

Every Friday is called Onan Day. The city center

becomes very crowded because of many people who

come to this area. They do for selling, shopping,

gathering, even travelling. The crowd of sellers and

buyers do not only focus on the center of the

Balerong complex, but scattered around the

buildings, on the sidewalk shops and along the left

and right side of the road as far as 1.5 km, starting

from Jalan Sisingamangaraja up to the port of Balige

( Figure 5). The community call Onan as Balige

bolon (bolon means: big, great), because so many

sellers come to the market comparing to other

markets.

The variety of activities can be seen in this place.

The sellers are not only hawking the companionship,

but also bringing their families. People also

watching storytelling. There is also many jokes, so

they also getting acquainted and jokingly to visitors.

The interaction of people on Onan Day creates new

social space that strengthen the existence the market.

The phenomenon is also found in the pedestrian

paths in front of shophouses where sellers and

buyers of fireworks can maintain the identity of the

area (Siagian, 2016)

The buyers are also mingle in these spaces. Onan

activities is not just for economic interests, but it is

an opportunity for vacation and of socializing.

People who bring families come to the onan and

accidentally met in the market and then share

information and eat together. The local community

and the customs figured from some villages in

Balige discuss the update information and distribute

invitation of their family events. Moreover, this

market are spaces for socializing, ties the

relationship between families.

The activities of Onan Balerong Balige is

resilience space of urban community for doing their

use value of living and struggling their life. The

existence of Balerong is also resilience space of the

identity of Balige as the area of Bataknese life

achievement.

4 THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND

ONAN BALERONG BALIGE

Economic development makes the surrounding area

of Onan Balerong complex be developed and

changed into a commercial areas. The commercial

activities have exchange values which was once the

ghetto of communities lived with use values.

However, now along the main street Jln.

Sisingamangaraja is evolved into shopping areas

which facilitate varieties of needs, such as household

furnitures, golds and jewels, mobile phones and

accessories, computers, motors, instant foods and

beverages; agricultural equipments and building

materials. In addition, the public offices such as

insurance offices, banks, lodgings and hotels,

bakeries, saloons, fast food restaurants, even mini

market with modern style architecture are presented

together with Onan Balige that performs the

traditional Batak architecture styles (Figure 6).

The changes of activities and the people lifestyle

in the city accommodate modern values to turn off

economic life in Onan Balerong market. It still

operates every day. Some traditional food such as

mie gomak, ombus-ombus, drinks, fruits are sold in

this market that can attract people to visit.

The existence of Onan Balerong that stand on

the Jln. Sisingamangaraja become the landmark of

Balige until recently. It presents the characteristic,

identity, and the existence of Balige. Its performance

captivate people. It is a melting place of local and

modern activities. The events take place naturally

without any conflict

Figure 6 The Atmosphere around Onan Balerong Complex

ICOSTEERR 2018 - International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches

256

5 CONCLUSIONS

Onan Balerong Balige with the uniqueness of its

Batak architecture exist until nowadays. It acts as the

center of the economical activities and a landmark of

the city.

The activities in the market are the resilience of

the space of the local communites for doing their use

values of living and struggling their lifes. The

transformation of spaces that occurs in Balige does

not eliminate local values that live in the Onan

Balerong Balige, however they present together in

the city.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are wishing to acknowledge assistance and

encouragement from some people and organization

in the created and improved of this paper. Thank to

Research Institution of University of Sumatera Utara

that has been providing opportunities and funding

over the smooth running of this research. Thank also

to all those who have helped us in the process of

research and the completion of this paper.

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