This study aims to reveal the existing of physical urban transformation in the former colonial city of Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The analyses of the study was based on the investigation of the existing built archives in the core city area which was conducted in 1995. The study concludes that buildings transformation in the core city area had led to the change of land use characteristic, but still maintained the existence of balance between living and commercial activities. However, the rapid process of building transformation has triggered the degradation process of physical urbanscape by demolition of old buildings which displayed the highly architectural significance's.
