sound pipes and glass bulbs let eindhoven’s dommel river communicate with passersby

marte mei unveils ‘will water want’ at the dommel river

On the occasion of Dutch Design Week 2023, Marte Mei of Land-Ally has transformed Eindhoven’s Dommel river into an unexpected stakeholder in the urban development narrative through Will Water Want pt.II. The project enables the river to communicate and interact with its environment through a system of glass and steel analogue tools standing amid or dangling above the water. Hanging from the bridge is an installation that allows the visitor to listen to sounds produced by the water flowing past the objects, turning the water’s flow into sound, while glass bubbles installed at different heights visualize the fluctuating water levels. Through these design objects, the public is invited to reflect on water as an entity and question the practical, sensory, and perhaps even spiritual connotations connected to it.

the river’s vibrations create an enchanting auditory experience

Land-Ally, initiated by designer Marte Mei, is a foundation dedicated to crafting public spaces in allyship with nature. The team was commissioned by the municipality of Eindhoven to make ‘The Voice of the Dommel’ heard in the area’s urban development. As such, Will Water Want pt.II begins with investigating the feasibility of incorporating the Dommel’s will into the area development plan. What emerges is a realization that the river, positioned centrally in the city, is not an independent entity but a small component influenced by the broader river basin.

The project poses two distinctive elements designed to give voice to the Dommel. One part consists of sound pipes that dangle from the bridge, transforming the river’s flow into a symphony of sounds. Developed as a collaboration between Marte Mei and an organ builder, these pipes bypass modern technology, relying on the river’s vibrations to create a unique auditory experience. The second component involves glass objects placed in the  river’s flow. The water’s fluctuating levels dictate the state of suspended glass bubbles or the passage of water through them. Through this visual representation, observers are invited to reflect on water not just as a resource but as an entity in its own right. Meanwhile, a billboard positioned along the riverbank provides a comprehensive system analysis of the river basin. It presents a collaborative study from three perspectives: The Scientist, Land-Ally, and questions engaging in a nuanced dialogue with the water.

project info:

name: Will Water Want pt.II
designer: Marte Mei / Land-Ally

event: Dutch Design Week | @dutchdesignweek

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.