Rebuilds.
The artistry behind creative rebuilding and adaptive reuse. In the complex world of organbuilding, the concepts of
creative rebuilding and adaptive reuse have emerged as transformative practices that not only preserve the past, but also pave the way for a more sustainable and innovative future.
The ‘bones’ of an instrument: legs, bearers, and windchest frames being set up in our erecting space.
Creative rebuilding.
The process of creatively rebuilding an instrument typically involves the use of some existing materials (pipes, windchests, structure, casework, consoles etc.) to completely reimagine the instrument.
In this approach, existing components are more freely recomposed to the extent that even a substantial portion of the original pipework and other carefully restored mechanical parts can result in an instrument that produces entirely different musical sounds, akin to a new organ.
The rebuild approach inherently carries a 'green' aspect by making efficient use of existing resources.
Revitalizing musical identity.
Creative rebuilding is particularly effective for an instrument lacking in musical artistry and flexibility or is mechanically unworthy of traditional restoration. However, it requires solidly constructed pipework and components capable of withstanding and effectively contributing to the creative process of reorganizing, rescaling, and revoicing to achieve the highest level of return in musical artistry.
This work is ultimately transformational, resulting in an instrument which, while perhaps reusing a significant percentage of a previous organ’s pipework or other components, will have a completely different musical and tonal identity.
Preserving legacy.
Not every existing instrument is suitable for the creative rebuild process; it demands both artistic and technical discernment to identify untapped potential. Instruments of historical significance are typically not considered as candidates for creative rebuilding or enlargement and instead warrant careful and conscientious restoration.
Sometimes an existing instrument already possesses a musically artistic ensemble that is worthy of further development. In organs already possessing this kind of value, but which might be lacking in flexibility or scope, expansion can be achieved via carefully considered ranks of pipes.
Strategic organ enhancement.
At Greenleaf, we typically recommend this approach as a cost-effective means of enhancing the musical flexibility of an organ already possessing a musically artistic ensemble considered worthy of further development.
It's important to understand the mechanical condition of the existing instrument before any expansion is undertaken, and whether it will maintain mechanical reliability in the future or require simultaneous restoration along with the additions. Consideration must also be given to the available space within or adjacent to the existing instrument to allow for any expansions.
Adaptive reuse.
Adaptive reuse closely aligns with the concept of creative rebuilding, pushing the boundaries of reimagining, rearranging, and reconstructing to the extreme. For instance, partially reconstructing a set of pipes to produce a completely different sound represents one way this practice is implemented. Additionally, adaptive reuse serves both sustainability and historical preservation goals, as it may involve incorporating valuable vintage materials from other sources into the creation of a new instrument.
For significant rebuilding projects, engaging an architect, structural engineer, or other design consultant is common practice. Our team includes experienced architectural personnel and together, we collaborate to produce new sounds through the reimagining, expanding and repurposing of existing materials.
Adaptive reimagining of a Hook-style music rack in mahogany and ebonized mahogany with maple splines added for additional stability.