Zadar, one of the historical cities of Croatia, is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the Ravni Kotari region. The historic city of Zadar has an enchanting atmosphere, with the musical instrument “Sea Organ” and the circle of light “Salutation to the Sun”, which looks like a rebirth of the sun on land at sunset. The musical instrument “Sea Organ” is the world’s first musical pipe organ played by the sea. It is the largest aerophone in the world with 35 separate pipes with a total length of more than 70 meters. It is an experimental musical instrument and architectural artwork that plays music through the sea waves and tubes, placed under the marble steps.
II. Reconstructed after World War II, the city of Zadar is one of the oldest and most important cities in Croatia. Zadar is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and has impressive architecture. While it was a quiet city that was interested in commerce and local tourism in the past, it added a new dimension to the city identity with Deniz Organ designed by Nicola Basic in 2005. This design perfectly blends the natural influence of sea and wind. It has become one of the tourist attractions of the city. This organ, unique in the world, is located at the point where the medieval town of Zadar meets the Adriatic sea.
At the suggestion of Nicola Basic, parts of the sea wall of the city of Zadar were redesigned. Instead of the seamless and monotonous landscape that previously consisted of concrete walls, a series of large marble steps in the shape of a staircase were placed to interact with the sea waves. This design bridged the gap between people and the sea, and made this highly user-intensive area more convenient in terms of ergonomics, usability, safety and aesthetics. This design by Nicola Basic highlights the view of Zadar, said to be the most beautiful in the world, at sunset.
Features of the Marine Organ
The Sea Organ (Croatian, Morske Orgulje) is a musical instrument consisting of polyethylene tubes and resonance cavities placed under marble blocks. Wave and wind movements pass through the tubes creating a musical melody. One of its most beautiful features is that it adds uniqueness and originality to the melody heard with every listen. With the change of natural factors such as wind speed, wavelength and intensity, a different melody is produced each time. In this way, an endless concert of countless musical variations created by nature itself is presented. The melodies formed in each listening have different timbres and reflect the characteristic of the moment.
In order for the organ to be played, the sea waves must hit the wide steps and push the air towards the grooves at the bottom, allowing the melody to pass through the wind chamber and reach our ears through the holes on the top step. The sound can only be heard in the coastal region, but not in the city. The Musical Sea Organ is a special instrument that offers both a visual and an auditory feast. While watching the view by the sea, you can enjoy the music accompanied by the rhythmic movements of the waves.
The Circle of Light called Salute to the Sun
The circle of light called “Salutation to the Sun” is connected with the Sea Organ along the coast. This installation encompasses a 22 meter diameter circle area surrounded by a metal ring displaying the names of Zadar’s saints and the dates of their feast days. This structure, which also has the feature of a solar system, is an important structure that attracts the attention of tourists.
This special installation, which illuminates the environment during the day by reflecting the energy it collects from the sun and daylight at night, creates a wonderful “night sun” for tourists by illuminating the surroundings during the night. This installation, which offers a great opportunity for tourists who want to take pictures, also creates a beautiful view for people walking along the beach.
