'Building the King of Instruments, the Pipe Organ', Busan International Art Center

Design Finalized, Full-Scale Production and Installation

Scheduled to Be Unveiled to Citizens by Opening

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Busan City has finalized the pipe organ design for the Busan International Art Center, currently under construction in Busan Citizens Park, and has begun full-scale pipe organ installation work.

Examples of pipe organ installations in domestic performance venues include Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (1978), Lotte Concert Hall (2016), and Bucheon Art Center (under construction). As this pipe organ is the first to be introduced outside the metropolitan area, it is expected to contribute to reducing regional cultural disparities.

Perspective rendering of the pipe organ production and installation at Busan International Art Center.

The pipe organ is a type of organ instrument that produces sound by sending air through pipes of various lengths arranged in musical scales.

Known as the "king of instruments" for its grand scale and diverse sounds, the pipe organ is custom-made during the architectural design phase, considering structure and function. The manufacturing process is similar to construction, so the instrument is described as being "built" rather than "made."

In April last year, Busan City established a plan to install the pipe organ and signed a contract with the German company Freiburger through a Public Procurement Service foreign purchase bid.

The organ will have 4,406 pipes, 62 stops, and 4 manuals. Among 10 designs proposed by the contractor and designers, the city selected 4 finalists after the first round of discussions and finalized the design at the "Design Selection Advisory Committee" on the 13th.

The selection reason was explained as: "Among the candidates, it shows the most orderly composition, with a symmetrical left-right structure that centers the design, possessing a three-dimensional feel and restrained beauty, along with a modern musical sensibility."

Following this design selection, detailed design work will be conducted, with pre-installation and voicing work scheduled in Germany by July 2024. After transportation to Korea, installation is planned to be completed by December 2024.

After a total production and installation period of 28 months, it will be unveiled to citizens in line with the opening of the Busan International Art Center in 2025.

Kim Ki-hwan, Director of the City’s Culture and Sports Bureau, stated, "With the installation of the pipe organ, the Busan International Art Center will not only establish itself as a world-class concert hall specializing in classical music but also lay the foundation for reducing regional cultural disparities, expanding artists’ activity stages, and ensuring citizens’ rights to cultural enjoyment."

The Busan International Art Center is a classical music venue with a total floor area of 19,862㎡, consisting of one basement floor and three above-ground floors, with a project budget of 104.8 billion KRW. Construction began in January 2021, currently at 30% progress in the framework stage, with completion scheduled for 2024 and opening in 2025.