FLOW Harnesses Tidal Waves to Create Energy and Music

<a href="http://owlproject.com/flow" target="_blank">FLOW</a> is a renewable energy harvesting tidemill like no other — the vessel not only <a href="http://inhabitat.com/uks-first-marine-energy-park-to-harvest-27-gigawatts-of-wave-power-by-2050/" target="_blank">generates energy with the rise and fall of each tide</a>, but also produces music! The structure, created by Owl Project and Ed Carter floats on the River Tyne in Northern England. Filled with acoustic machines, FLOW produces <a href="http://inhabitat.com/french-students-use-algae-jelly-to-create-sweet-melodies/" target="_blank">musical magic</a> as the building harnesses energy from the passing waves.

Flow, which sits on a floating dock on the Tyne waterfront, is clad in wood, with a giant paddle wheel alongside the front of it.

Inside, Flow is fitted with hundreds of wooden gears, timber pistons, buttons, chords and strings, all <a href="http://inhabitat.com/swoons-dithyrambalina-is-a-new-orleans-shanty-town-that-doubles-as-giant-music-box/" target="_blank">creating intricate instruments that can be found throughout</a>.

The sounds vary depending on the ebb and flow of the water as it passes through Flow during <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-report-finds-3-7-million-u-s-residents-at-risk-from-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank">high and low tides</a>. Visitors can also manipulate the sounds and instruments inside, by playing with buttons, knobs and gears.

But the building-instrument is not all rustic wood. Flow also includes a sophisticated digital system that <a href="http://inhabitat.com/funky-blue-court-of-water-wall-plays-music-when-it-rains-video/" target="_blank">creates sounds when water passes through</a> filters, lasers and sensors.

Each creates a different acoustic release, such as beeps, creaks, groans and hisses, sounds that one could associate with a vessel on the sea. One instrument even measures the salt <a href="http://inhabitat.com/northern-irelands-seagen-tidal-turbine-gets-environmental-approval/" target="_blank">content in the water</a>, and makes a sound depending on the salinity levels.

Flow is a source of entertainment for visitors, an audio art installation , but also functions as a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/ecotricitys-searaser-tidal-power-generator-could-be-the-worlds-cheapest-method-of-producing-electricity/" target="_blank">river research station</a>, as the instruments that use the river water’s content to work, also double as research tools. The innovative project is one of twelve public art projects produced by the UK Arts Council in celebration of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/olympic-data-center-staff-to-avoid-traffic-by-sleeping-in-pods-next-to-servers/" target="_blank">London 2012 Olympic Games</a>.