Community Center Design with Tropical Architecture Approach in Medan Helvetia District

Abstract

Medan Helvetia District, as one of the urban areas in Medan City, has experienced significant growth both demographically and in terms of community social activities. However, the availability of representative public spaces to accommodate various community activities remains limited. Therefore, a community center facility is needed to support inclusive and sustainable social, educational, and cultural activities. This design adopts a tropical architectural approach in response to the tropical climate conditions of Medan, characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and relatively high humidity. The approach is implemented through design strategies such as adaptive building orientation, cross-ventilation utilization, the use of natural lighting, and the selection of materials suited to local climatic characteristics. In addition, the design also considers the social and cultural context of the local community to create spaces that are not only functionally and thermally comfortable but also possess strong contextual value. The result of this study is a community center design that functions as a node for meaningful social interaction, climate-responsive, and harmonious with the physical and social environment of Medan Helvetia District