PUSAT CINDERAMATA PARTUNGKOAN TOBA

Alam Toba is the most beautiful souvenir that must be preserved as a destination. The visual preservation is achieved by submerging the central souvenir building and guiding visitors to circumnavigate the site area while enjoying the surrounding view of Lake Toba before descending through a ramp and entering it.

Partungkoan is a Batak word that means a gathering place or a place for consultation. The concept of Partungkoan envisions the surrounding communities of Toba as stewards of Lake Toba Conservation, who need to be accommodated as hosts on this land. Therefore, the ground floor of this site provides a roofed patio with a view of Lake Toba, which can be used for gatherings of the local community, wedding blessings, press conferences, launching local products, and recreational activities with family. It is hoped that the surrounding communities see this place as a public space for the local community to come together.

Being close to residential areas and tourist attractions makes this location quite strategic for a souvenir center building. With the scenic beauty of both the lake and the untouched mountains, it adds value to Partungkoan Toba as it embraces the concept that Lake Toba itself is an irreplaceable souvenir.

Here are our ideas regarding this site:

• Celebrating Toba View

Lowering the building level is done to enhance the beauty of Lake Toba’s view.

• Lambe-lambe Roof

A public space with a traditional roof typical of local houses, serving as a multipurpose meeting space and a photo area with a stunning backdrop of Toba’s scenery.

• Jabu Experience

A pathway allowing visitors to look below to admire the reflecting pond before descending through a ramp, creating an experience reminiscent of entering traditional Batak houses.

• Sulur Gorga / Spiral Approach

Adapting the form of the Sulur or Gorga motif in the entrance circulation, building mass, and interior layout. The centralized form of the building mass aligns with the motif of Gorga, which is typically centralized. The approach surrounding the building allows visitors to appreciate the three-dimensional form of the distinctive roof of traditional Batak houses along with the picturesque view of Toba.

• Celebrating Batak Souvenirs – with Culture & Nature

The interior layout is designed with radial circulation following the pattern of the Gorga Sulur, allowing visitors to enjoy a comfortable shopping experience for souvenirs. Visitors’ attention is drawn to two focal points: Cicak (a lizard) & Payudara (breasts) as cultural icons inside the building, and the boundless view of Toba outside the wood-framed windows with Gorga motifs, symbolizing the nature that must be preserved.