The wind organ

The wind organ, originally uploaded by Cybergabi.

I’ve been to this place, Vlissingen, in Zeeland, quite a few times during the mid-90s. The last time must have been in ‘96.

Today, we went back. It was a wonderful day. We were incredibly lucky with the weather – blue sky, sunshine, a perfect day for a little trip.

This photo shows the ‘World Wind Organ’ which is situated on an old bunker-like structure above the beach. There isn’t much reference to the project on the web (other than Flickr photos, of course), BUT: On the tourist office website of Zeeland, it says in Dutch something like:

"The piece of art consists of several dozens bamboo pipes with sound holes which are located vertically next to each other in a windy place. The design company "Mass & Individual Moving" from Brussels imported the required bamboo from Cameroon and wanted to erect along the European coastline a series of wind organs, as a symbol of connectedness with Africa. The wind which makes the pipes sound comes mostly from the South. In the end only three wind organs were realized. In 1976 a heavy storm devastated the wind organ which at that time was still located on the beach. The new version of the object was placed on the Nollebunker, but was destroyed by vandals in 1981. The third version, in the same location, is now embedded in long steel columns which provide a safe stand on its feet, and you can hear it when there’s sufficient wind. It is a special experience to stand between the bamboo pipes and listen to the sonorous flute tones at 5-7 Beaufort wind speed."

I certainly agree.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

~ by Cybergabi on December 7, 2008.