Von der Notfalltür zum exklusiven Möbelstück
Lufthansa Upcycling Collection "Papa Charlie": Making of des Emergency Exit Sideboards
Vier Notfalltüren, eine Frage: Was kann man daraus Schönes für die Lufthansa Upcycling Collection „Papa Charlie“ bauen? Aus dieser Aufgabenstellung wurde die großartige Idee des Emergency Exit Sideboards geboren, eines Regals mit der Notfalltür als Regaltür. Doch wie genau sollte das gehen? Ein kleines Team hat sich der Entwicklung dieses Möbelstücks voller Leidenschaft gewidmet.
Soll die Tür einfach vorne draufmontiert, zur Seite weggeklappt oder in das Regal eingelassen werden? Wie kompensiert man, dass die Tür in alle Richtungen gebogen ist und keine geraden Kanten wie eine übliche Schranktür aufweist? Dies waren nur einige der Fragen, die geklärt werden mussten, damit das exklusive Möbelstück am Ende gut aussieht und funktional durchdacht ist.
Pragmatisch statt strikt nach Plan
Praxis schlägt Theorie, hat man sich gedacht und gleich einen Dummy des Sideboards gebaut, anstatt zunächst eine technische Zeichnung anzufertigen. Auf diese Weise konnten Schwachstellen schneller identifiziert und auch gleich beseitigt werden. Die Lösung war, die Notfalltür so in das Regal zu montieren, dass sie von den Wänden und vom Deckel seitlich beziehungsweise oben begrenzt wird.
Außerdem entschied man, den Korpus aus keilgezinktem Eichenholz zu bauen. Die Struktur des Holzes verleiht dem Möbelstück seinen hochwertigen Look. Zugleich ist das Material massiv genug, um ein adäquates Gegenstück zur robusten Notfalltür zu bilden.
A cult object created step by step
The four emergency doors arrived well-packed on a pallet at the workshop located some 50 kilometres from Frankfurt Airport. Now it was time for the team to roll up their sleeves. First of all, the doors were inspected. The interior trim of the first door was unscrewed and the insulating material was removed together with the cavity wax that prevents oxidation of the aluminium material.
The door then had to be cleaned and its exterior was gently and carefully processed using a buffing machine. It was important that the signs of use were retained as these would subsequently provide the finished item with its authentic look. Subsequently two rollers each were attached to the top and bottom of the door with which it would be attached to the wooden carcase.
Made to measure - the oak carcase
The team had made a template of an emergency exit door so that it would be easier to adapt the oak carcase to the form and dimensions of the door. The base was first precisely cut to size, followed by the side panels, the rear panel, the top and the shelving.
The shelves were then glued to the carcase in positions in which they would not be visible through the window of the emergency door. This inventive detail means that items placed on the lower shelf can be clearly seen through the door window. To complete the carcase, the rails for the door were screwed to the base and the top.
An exceptional article of furniture "Made in Germany"
Then the prepared door could be mounted in the two rails attached to the carcase. Time to bring out the buffing machine again to give the emergency exit door a last and delicate finish - and with that, the job was done.
The innovative way the team brought together upcycling, aeronautics and aesthetics into a unified whole has made the emergency exit sideboard something very special - and, there are only four of them worldwide. Future owners will be proud to say that they are one of a select few able to enhance their decor with what is a genuinely rare piece.