Changes in the Architectural Function of the Bolon House of the Toba Batak Ethnic Group from Social Function to Tourism Object

Alpiani Lubis; Immanuel  Silaban; Eka Silviana Siregar; Doan Yohannes Manullang; Anggun Yuni Sarah Saragih

doi:10.55909/jpbs.v4i6.956

Authors

Alpiani Lubis Prodi Sastra Batak, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Immanuel Silaban Prodi Sastra Batak, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Eka Silviana Siregar Prodi Sastra Batak, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Doan Yohannes Manullang Prodi Sastra Batak, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
Anggun Yuni Sarah Saragih Prodi Sastra Batak, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55909/jpbs.v4i6.956

Keywords:

architectural function, Bolon house, Toba Batak, social function, tourism object

Abstract

This study aims to uncover changes in the social function of the Bolon House, the factors causing the changes, and their impact on the meaning and cultural values of the Toba Batak people. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with document-based analysis (documentary research). This approach was chosen because the study focuses on literature reviews and secondary data relevant to the changes in the function of the Bolon House, without conducting direct observations in the field. Data sources in this study consist of primary and secondary data, namely books, scientific articles, undergraduate theses, dissertations, and academic journals on Toba Batak architecture, as well as cultural tourism, as well as documentary data, namely digital archives, reports from local governments/tourism offices, and policy documents related to cultural preservation and tourism development. Data analysis was carried out through data reduction stages, sorting information from literature and documents relevant to the topic of changes in the function of the Bolon House. Categorization groups the data into themes: the traditional social function of the Bolon House, factors of change, implications for tourism, and cultural preservation. Although the change in function has the potential to reduce its sacred and social value, the existence of the Bolon House in the tourism sector also opens up opportunities for preservation, promotion of cultural identity, and empowerment of the local economy. Thus, this transformation needs to be managed wisely so that the Bolon House continues to function as a traditional architectural heritage that has sustainable social, cultural, and economic significance.

References

Andriansyah, D. M. (2024). Pengaruh Modernisasi pada Arsitektur Tradisional. Jurnal Media Akademik, 2(11), 1–20.

Arif Sumarto, D., Zaini, A., Mildani, R., & Hardian, R. (2024). Reinterpretasi Arsitektur Tradisional dalam Desain Museum Budaya Lokal Aceh. Reinterpretation of Traditional Architecture In The Design of The Aceh Local Culture Museum 2024. Journal of Informatics and Computer Science, 10(2). https://jurnal.uui.ac.id/index.php/jics/article/download/4924/2367

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Pendekatan Kualitatif, Kuantitatif, dan Mixed. Penerjemah: Ahmad Fawaid. Editor: Saifudin Zuhri Qudsy. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.

Dafrina, A., Fidyati, F., & Siska, D. (2022). Perubahan Bentuk dan Susunan Ruang pada Arsitektur Tradisional Suku Batak Toba melalui Pendekatan Tipologi. Arsitekno, 9(2), September 2022, 60-69

Fraenkel, J. R.; Wallen, N. E., Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education. Eighth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Nurafni, N., Laksono, A., Chairina, F., Sillahi, W., Br, Y. Z., Maryam, S. R., & Amri, I. (2024). Kelangsungan dan Perubahan Rumah Adat Batak Toba pada Masa Kini. Journal of Creative Student Research (JCSR), 2(3), 157–165.

Purba, D. G., Tan, T. I., Saragih, Y. I. W., Manik, J. K., Elisyah, A. N., & M, H. S. (2024). Mengenal Rumah Bolon Purba “Jejak Tradisi dan Budaya Batak Simalungun.” INNOVATIVE: Journal of Social Science Research, 4, 9012–9020.

Razak, A. (2017). Menggapai Mixed Methods Bidang Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia. Pekanbaru: Ababil Press.

Samosir, A. (2013). Transformasi Arsitektur Tradisional Rumah Adat Batak Toba di Toba Samosir,” Gener. Kampus, vol. 6, no. 2, 144–162.

Saputra, A., Syaputra, H., Syahid, A. G. A., Ulhaq, M. R., Dafrina, A., & Novianti, Y. (2025). Representasi Arsitektur Tradisional Aceh pada Gedung Lama DPRK Aceh Utara. Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Unida, 6(1), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.55616/jitu.v6i1.1044

Silaban, I., & Sibarani, R. (2021). The Tradition of Mambosuri Toba Batak Traditional Ceremony for a Pregnant Woman with Seven Months Gestational Age for Women’s Physical and Mental Health. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S558–S560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.07.033

Silaban, I., Sibarani, R., Situmorang, H., & Widayati, D. (2019). Performance of Marhata Unjuk in Batak Toba Wedding. KnE Social Sciences, 2019, 970–979. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i19.4921

Simbolon, A. B., Sembiring, F. G., Silalahi, E. K., & Chairunnisa, H. (2025). Peran dan Dinamika Marga dalam Masyarakat Batak: Antara Tradisi dan Modernitas. Jurnal Lingkar Pembelajaran Inovatif, 6(3), 25–37.

Sinulingga, J., Siallagan, I. P., Grace, M., Saragi, J., & Sera, O. (2025). Ruma Bolon Batak Toba sebagai Warisan Budaya dan Tantangan Pelestariannya di Era Modern. Parataksis: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia.

Sitindjak, R. H. I. (2020). Apropriasi Rumah Tradisional Batak Toba pada Arsitektur Gereja Katolik Pangururan di Samosir Appropriation of Batak-Toba Traditional Houses in the Architecture of the Pangururan Catholic Church in Samosir Jurnal BioKultur, 9(2), 87–100. https://doi.org/10.20473/bk.v9i2.23118

Suryaningsih, R. Mumu, R., & Purwanto, A. (2022). Integrasi Sosial Mahasiswa Suku Batak di Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik Universitas Sam Ratulangi Manado Sulawesi Utara. Jurnal Ilmiah Society, 2(1), 1–10.