One of the things that fascinates me is history. I love historical things—especially recent historical things—and find efforts that preserve those items an interesting read. I also have an interest in transportation: this leads, of course, to an interest in adaptive reuse of airframes (as well as an interest in how old airports are reused, but I digress). Today’s news brought an interesting article related to reuse of airframes; that led me to look up two other stories on the subject.
The trigger article was one in the LA Times about the first 747 being recycled into a restaurant in S. Korea that subsequently failed. That first 747 now sits rusting, unsed, above a noodle shop. Sad, and in many ways sadder than the airplanes mothballed in the various boneyards, for those might stil be used. These frames want to see life and use.
This reminded me of an article about a house in Malibu that was constructed from the frame of a 747. Wings and the tail formed the roof; other parts of the frame made other portions of the structure. Of course, the house is visible from the air, and the home is registered with the FAA so that it isn’t mistaken for a downed aircraft. There’s an article on the transformation here.
Lastly, here’s an article about adaptive reuse of transportion in general: converting trains, planes and subways cars into living and working spaces. Some of the pictures here are quite interesting… and remind me of dinner last night. To explain: my friend, gyesika, has done adaptive reuse: she has adapted an old Air Force GMC truck into a moving art project with chalkboard sides. The last picture in the linked article, about the couple that converted their van into a studio apartment, triggered the memory of her truck. Perhaps, if she reads this, she’ll share the story of the truck.
