Pete Seeger an American folk singer and activist once said, “If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.”
Words spoken years ago are making more and more sense as the days go by and the ever burgeoning dumping yards show no sign of abating.
Luckily, both the informed and the laypersons are well on their way to recycling household articles such as those made out of plastic, wood, glass, cardboard, paper, metals, textiles, etc.
In most cities, these days, there are even centres where one may take electronic trash like computers, mobile phones and the like. But still one question keeps emerging time and again, ‘Is this enough?’ The answer is obvious; unfortunately it will probably never be enough!
In such a milieu we have MotoArt a company focused on creating custom show pieces and furniture made from retired airplanes and salvaged aviation parts. This innovative company, located in Torrance, California has created custom furniture for many high profile corporations such as Microsoft, AOL, Go Daddy, Red Bull, Northrop, Boeing and other major corporations, along with aviation enthusiasts and those interested in collectible functional art for their offices, homes or hangars.
Using the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress MotoArt has created several unique conference tables, coffee tables, mirrors, and chairs.
Proving that there is no shortage of aviation enthusiasts out there, MotoArt’s pieces can be found all over the world, says managing partner Dave Hall: “We have over 100 designs and have produced thousands of pieces that you will find in nearly all parts of the world, from the Dubai Burj, to the Sears Tower, and even as far away as the North Pole.”
An impressive and one-of-a-kind 12-seater conference table is put together by MotoArt utilising the defunct parts of a Boeing 747 engine nacelle – complete with six connection ports and internal LED lighting.
And who wouldn’t want to rush to the office to work at an executive desk made from the fuselage of a jumbo jet, where the windows can be ‘configured with lighted LED’s, changeable photographs or even iPads for visual presentations.’
These desks are certain attention-grabbers, thanks to their original engineering, which MotoArt often makes more obvious for example by showing the wings’ interior skeleton. Some of these parts came off decommissioned war planes like B-25s, C-119s that have served in the Second World War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, while others were borrowed from old passenger planes like the DC-9.
Using parts like rudders, nacelles and fuselages, MotoArt has been transforming these pieces of what they aptly call “aviation history” into works of functional art for the last 12 years. To get a good idea of what exactly this company is about, check out this CNN video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzuFz1tegS0, which offers a glimpse into their creative process and which sometimes includes over a hundred hours of sanding!
With 12,000 airplanes slated to retire by 2020, says the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA), “the process of recycling can be quite expensive, with dismantling being a labour-intensive effort that takes up to four weeks to complete.”
Of course, there’s more than one way to recycle a jet with companies like California-based furniture maker MotoArt. It not only creates unique, high-quality, aviation inspired furniture for corporate and residential spaces, but also custom designed pieces created specifically for any space, large or small. Upon delivery of size requirements, any style piece can be customised, or a new product can be developed for your needs and requirements.
From fully customised features, dimensions, colour, materials, style and function, your piece of aviation history from MotoArt can be a collaborative creation second to none. Your custom MotoArt furniture or art design includes industrial design, concept rendering, engineering and 3D CAD modeling to fit your specific needs. Contact MotoArt to get started on building your own piece of aviation history and doing your bit for planet Earth.
Contacte
email: info@motoart.com