Tjong A Fie Mansion, House of the transformed Thus Museum

Inspired Picasso Museum, Pair Three Cultures

Tjong A Fie's name not dapatdipisahkan from Medan history. Wealthy people who were merupakandermawan menyumbangbanyak to pembangunangedung-important buildings in his town. To commemorate the service of Tjong A Fie, a museum was established.

IGNAA., Medan

HOUSE Tjong A Fie in the area of Jalan Ahmad Yani (Kesawan) is quite familiar to residents of Medan. In fact, the house that was built in 1895 has been designated as one of the tourist capital of North Sumatra. The travel agents at Medan migrants often enter houses from Guandong, China, the kola in package tours.

Apart from the figure of the legendary Tjong A Fie in Medan, residential businessman who had assisted the Government of Medan past megahdan it was still well maintained. The complex houses are built on an area of 6,000 square meters. Area of building 5,000 square meters. Two-story house with these deco modelan has 40 rooms.

The building is a fusion of three cultures, namely China. Malay, and European. European aroma so felt from the iron-iron columns and a large firm, a typical Dutch building. Taste of China looks at wood carving. Then, Malay shades of yellow lights visible from the dominant.

Tjong A Fie's house is one of hundreds of buildings on Jalan Ahmad Yani who store important historical story of Medan. Along the way 500s meters was also standing estate office (the first modern building in Medan), publishing, and banking. In addition. there are restaurants and shops. At the beginning of the 20th century, the region's economy Kesawan has become the bustling city center.

The mansion was home to a large family of Tjong A Fie. Namely. Tjong A Fie and his wife (third) Koei Lim Yap and seven children Up to now, the house was still habitable Fon Prawira, grandson of Tjong A Fie of her fourth child. Kweet Ching Leong. Since June 18, 2009, the mansion was opened as Tjong A Fie Memorial Institute and is also known by the name of Tjong A Fie Mansion. Opening Tjong A Fie Memorial Institute to coincide with the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Tjong A Fie.

"We wanted the house to be living museum in memory of our ancestors," said Fon Prawira, the initiators, when met Indopos last week. Tjong A Fie's family moved to Denmark in 1921 and only returned to Indonesia in 1930. Over the past nine years. house is left empty. Initially, children Tjong A Fie back inhabit the house. However, the family lived Fon Prawira who hang in there until now.

Tjong A Fie fantastic home that is attracting more investors who intend to buy it. Not a few who made an offer to make the building as a commercial place. For example, anyone wants to turn it into a restaurant. There is also the intention of making it a hotel or inn, considering the house has many rooms.

Fon states never tempted to accept the offer was tempting. However, after thinking long and consulted with a large family of Tjong A Fie, Fon is not willing to let go. "I think long term about the condition of the building," he said.

Fon does not want to get stuck in a moment of pleasure by accepting an offer investors, but then her grandfather's heritage buildings damaged and changed functions. Because, when investors come in, so maybe the buildings are dismantled here and there. In fact, he gets a mandate to preserve the family home Tjong A Fie it.

"If it falls to the investor, the house could lose identity as a heritage house. In fact, the house was to save our history, not only for our big family, but also the city of Medan." said the director of PT Mitra Nusantara Vegetable them.

As part of the historical city of Medan, the family realized that the Fon people of the city are also entitled to know more about the home of one of the most influential in the field in his day. From this idea, an idea to make the house as a museum. Moreover, many relics of Tjong A Re properly stored in the house. "Unfortunately if not utilized. Moreover, the age grandfather's relics are old enough. More than a century," he said.

Because it is still inhabited by experts waris.rumah Fon conceptualized as the living museum or a museum of life. Concept, he said, inspired Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain. With this concept, not just museum displaying relics of objects. However, visitors can see directly the life of the museum owner who still live there. Such concepts are also adopted Affandi Museum in Yogyakarta. In addition to keeping the works of the maestro, the museum occupied the legendary family of painters.

Fon and family are occupying most of the buildings was converted into a museum. Museums and family residence Fon only separated by a wooden door. The atmosphere of the museum is very hominy, just like an ordinary dwelling. The smell of "home" was visible from the home care activities that take place as usual in the middle of back and forth visitors. Gardener sweeping the back of the house. Elsewhere, an aide to clean the glass window. In the middle of the room, provided the chair with the desk to where visitors relax and enjoy the atmosphere of home.

Fon states need to work hard to turn the mansion into a museum. At least, Fon should do some research in advance about the figure of his grandfather, Tjong A Fie. He needs to hunt through archives of his late grandfather to the Tropical Institute in the Netherlands.

"Fortunately, people in Holland are very welcome. They do not mind giving away some documents about the grandfather to me." he said. The museum contains the private collection of Tjong A Fie. But, it was only a quarter only. The others are still a lot. Some brought children Tjong A Fie other, "he said.

For the purposes of the museum. Fon employs four guides. They were on duty guarding the guests who come and explain the history of Tjong A Fie, collectible items, to the spaces in the museum. Sri Wahyu is one of four guides who worked at the museum family. Nearly a year of work, he was very adept at explaining every detail of the residence of Tjong A Fie. In fact, about the origin of carving on furniture museum. Yuni understand very well.

"Cabinets are being ordered in Greece. It can be seen from the carvings symbolizing the god Zeus." Yuni clear to the guests who inquire about an antique cabinet in the bedroom Tjong A Fie. Looking ahead, Fon wants to make Tjong A Fie Institute as building three-dimensional. Not only featuring the history and contents of the house, but also presents various results of the Peranakan culture. Reasons. Koei Lim Yap. Tjong A Fie's third wife. is the Peranakan Chinese people and Weigh Langkat, Binjai. "For example, we will present the various confectionary typical Peranakan Chinese," said Fon. (*)