Recycled house from a jetliner.

Ground control to major home: Old Boeing 747 recycled into Malibu Wing House

By OLIVER PICKUP
Last updated at 3:20 AM on 12th November 2010

Most people go on an aeroplane to get away from home, but one jet-set woman has taken a whole new departure and made her house out of a plane - a Boeing 747, to be exact.

The Wing House, as it has been dubbed, is in Malibu and is the brainchild of wacky Los Angeles designer David Hertz, who was asked to work his magic by Mercedes car dealership owner Francie Rehwald. 

Some may think it sounds plane crazy, but a few might think Mrs Rehwald has landed herself a nice pad.

The stylish design of the sustainable house includes three bedrooms, a kitchen, an art studio and a guest house. Who knows, it might just take off?

Grounded: The Boeing 747 has been turned into the Wing House, which will be completed in Malibu next year

When the grounded Mrs Rehwald bought the 55-acre plot of land, she wanted to do something special. 

And, considering it was the site where late costume designer Tony Duquette's eccentric plot, Sortilegium, stood until it was burnt down in 1993, she wanted to continue his theme.

Mr Duquette had created his empire out of found, recycled objects, so Mrs Rehwald called Mr Hertz and told him to fly away and think of an idea along those lines - but make it curvy, and rounded, like a woman.

Resourceful: Architect David Hertz bought this old plane for $35,000 and transported it to Mailbu using helicopters

So the architect did just that, and began to study aeroplanes. He would snap pictures of wings when he was on a flight somewhere; wander around plane graveyards; and take images of Boeings from all different angles.

He thought that a Boeing 747, with over 4.5million parts - and 230ft long, 195ft wide and 63ft tall - would provide enough raw materials to build Mrs Rehwald her new house.

So, having run the idea passed her, Mr Hertz proceeded to buy an old Boeing 747 from a plane graveyard for $35,000 (£22,000) - a new one would have set him back $200million (£124million).

Though it took 18 months for the government to OK the build, now the house is really taking off. It is not expected to be fully ready until next summer, but it has some brilliant features.

First of all there is a 4,000 square-foot living area, and the plane's nose has been turned in to a 45ft-high meditation pavilion – with the cockpit window used as a skylight.

The plane's wings have been used to make the roof. And the stabilizers from the tail section make up the roof of the master bedroom, where there is likely to be plenty of mile-high action.

Flying high: The plane, which had 4.5m bits, has created a 4,000 square-foot living area and is eco-friendly

The fuselage has been put to good use, too, and makes up the kitchen and an art studio. 

Transporting the aeroplane’s parts – from the desert graveyard to Malibu – proved a slight problem, though.

Most of the plane had to be chopped up and transported using helicopters.

For the remaining bits, five motorways had to be closed a night while a convoy moved the rest.

But Mrs Rehwald is reported to be delighted with how the Wing House is taking shape, and must be looking forward to the day when the doors are set to manual next year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328756/Ground-control-major-home-Old-Boeing-747-recycled-Malibu-Wing-House.html#ixzz155jCE2Z6