Transformasi Tipomorfologi Permukiman Lama di Pusat Kota Studi Kasus: Permukiman Melayu dan Eropa di Pusat Kota Medan

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the transformations of the historical Malay and European settlements in the city center of Medan. The analyzed changes encompass both physical alterations and functional shifts, addressing the questions of “how” and “why” these transformations occurred. An urban morphology approach utilizing the typomorphological method is applied to examine the city's development over five periods: 1913, 1925, 1950, 2005, and 2024. The settlement analysis focuses on the patterns of spatial element changes, including streets, buildings, and inter-building spaces. The findings indicate that the early Malay settlement was originally structured as a village, plantation, and the Puri Palace area, which was well-organized and distinctly recognized as an elite aristocratic zone. Over time, it has transformed into a high-density, mixed-use settlement with an irregular spatial system. This transformation is closely linked to the organic historical development of the area and urban planning regulations that failed to accommodate local needs. Meanwhile, the European ethnic settlement in 1913 was characterized by a clustered settlement pattern with green open spaces surrounding the buildings, which primarily functioned as residential areas, government offices, and private institutions. By 2024, this area has evolved into a dense urban settlement with a predominant commercial function, accommodating crucial facilities such as hotels, banks, major hospitals, and shopping malls, while still retaining its original residential, governmental, and private institutional roles. The settlement pattern in 2024 has shifted towards a linear form, where the expansion of residential and commercial buildings follows the main road corridors.