Konservasi Kawasan Museum Al-Washliyah sebagai Wahana Interaksi Antarbudaya di Kota Medan

Abstract

Being one of the major cities in Indonesia, Medan has preserved numerous historical buildings ranging from Dutch colonial heritage buildings to those from prosperous kingdoms/sultanates of the past, particularly in the Kesawan area with its diverse ethnicities. The buildings in the Kesawan area currently pictures a blend of old Colonial and Chinese architectural styles, combining both old and modern structures. Masjid Lama Gang Bengkok is a tangible testament to the remnants of buildings with a mix of three different architectural styles: Malay, Chinese, and Persian. With its distinctive form, the mosque can be regarded as a symbol of cultural acculturation and interethnic and interreligious harmony. Within the mosque complex, there is the Al Washliyah Museum, which was originally a madrasa and served as the foundation of the Al-Jam'iyatul Al-Washliyah Islamic organization. This museum showcases historical collections and is relatively less known to the general public. Surprisingly, even the Masjid Lama Gang Bengkok remains unfamiliar to the people of Medan. Therefore, in order to prevent further deterioration of the physical, functional, and visual character of this old city center area, innovative efforts are required. This can be achieved by harnessing the full potential of the area to revive the environmental atmosphere and prevent its fading