Balige Traditional Market (Onan Balige)

Aesthetics of Jabu Bolon: Transformation of Batak House Typology

The main characteristic that makes Balige Market so striking is its roof design, which adopts the form of Jabu Bolon (Great House). The market's architecture consists of a series of multi-story buildings with sharply curved gable roofs at both ends, resembling buffalo horns or ship forms. This design is not merely decorative but an application of Batak architectural principles rich in symbolic meaning.

Visually, these roofs create a dynamic rhythm. From a distance, the silhouette of Balige Market appears like a row of ships docked on land. The use of shiny zinc roofing material under the Toba sun provides a textural contrast with the wooden and concrete ornaments on the building's body. Each unit within the market complex is designed to respect traditional proportions, where the roof section has a larger volume compared to the building's body, symbolizing protection and connection with ancestors.

History and Development Context

Onan Balige has long historical roots, beginning during the Dutch colonial era when Balige was established as an administrative and trading center in the Toba highlands. The physical development of the market we see today, with its rows of traditional-style buildings, is the result of revitalization efforts aimed at strengthening Balige's image as a cultural city.

Its development involved the integration of modern construction techniques with traditional motifs. Unlike original traditional houses that used wooden structures and bindings, Balige Market uses reinforced concrete foundations and brick walls to ensure durability against the high load of market activities and fire risks. However, details on the facade retain elements of Gorga—a distinctive Batak carving art—applied to the Tompa (outer walls) and Dorpi sections.

Structural Innovation and Gorga Details

One of the most unique architectural aspects of Onan Balige is its boldness in displaying Gorga on a public scale. Motifs such as Ipion-ipion (line motif) and Simeol-meol (creeping plant motif) adorn strategic parts of the building. The use of traditional Batak colors—red, white, and black—on the building's ornaments provides a strong visual identity. Red symbolizes courage and life, white symbolizes purity, and black symbolizes authority.

Structurally, the market building is designed with an open-plan concept on its ground floor to facilitate natural air circulation. Considering Balige's cool yet humid climate, cross-ventilation is crucial. The carefully arranged distance between buildings creates wind corridors that cool the temperature inside the market without the need for mechanical cooling systems. The high roof also serves as a heat buffer space, ensuring comfort for traders and visitors below.

Cultural and Social Significance: "Onan" as a Communal Space

In Batak culture, Onan (market) is not just a place for buying and selling but a social institution. The architecture of Balige Market supports this function through the provision of open spaces between building blocks. These spaces often become sites of intense social interaction, where the philosophy of Dalihan Na Tolu (Batak kinship framework) is practiced in daily negotiations.

The connection between architecture and social activities is clearly visible on market days (Onan days). The elongated building design provides equitable accessibility for every stall. Wide staircases connecting the first and second floors are designed not only as circulation means but also as temporary seating for visitors who want to rest while observing the market's hustle and bustle.

Visitor Experience and Urban Integration

For tourists or architects visiting, the experience of being inside the Onan Balige complex offers a unique spatial sensation. The transition from the dense highway area to the market alleys shaded by giant roofs provides an interesting effect of space compression and expansion. Sunlight entering through the roof gaps creates a play of shadows that accentuates the texture of the carvings on the walls.

The market's location adjacent to Balige Port and the Mausoleum of National Hero Sisingamangaraja XII makes this building an anchor in the urban landscape. Visually, the presence of this market balances the city's modernity with its past heritage. The view from the market's upper floors offers a panorama of traditional rooftops against a backdrop of green hills and the blue of Lake Toba, an unparalleled architectural and natural composition.

Current Use and Preservation

Currently, Balige Traditional Market continues to operate as the economic lifeline of Toba. Although it has undergone several renovations to improve sanitation facilities and accessibility, its original architectural character has been strictly maintained. The local government recognizes that the uniqueness of this building is an invaluable tourism asset.

The architectural challenge for Onan Balige in the future is how to integrate waste management technology and street vendor arrangements without damaging the iconic facade's aesthetics. Preservation efforts not only focus on the physical maintenance of the building but also on educating the community about the historical value behind the roof shapes and Gorga carvings they inhabit daily.

Conclusion

Balige Traditional Market (Onan Balige) is a tangible proof of how traditional architecture can survive and remain relevant amidst modernization. By drawing inspiration from Jabu Bolon, this building has successfully elevated the status of a traditional market into a work of built art. It stands tall as a symbol of pride for the Toba people, a harmonious blend of economic functionality, structural strength, and the deep Batak cultural philosophy that continues to breathe on the shores of Lake Toba.