cock rack "bjarne"
In 1970, a large furniture company coined the phrase, “Use it and throw it away”.
Bicycle wrecks amass in urban environments and end up in the trash even when they have not lost their usefulness. Attempts to restore these bicycle parts failed.
“homage au velo“ is a furniture project which is based on the integration of old and used bicycle parts as construction and design elements. These pieces of furniture demonstrate the possibility of redefining used and seemingly worthless objects in our materialistic society.
The use of old bicycle parts offers a huge resource of various pieces which possess their own history and identity thus rendering each piece unique. The pieces of furniture are duplicates which then become a “one of a kind” item due to the different bicycle elements employed. A prominent application of the latter elements set them in the spotlight. The bicycle elements differ in form and material from the other parts and are integrated quite functionally into the piece. A simple and easy-to-assemble construction makes it possible to produce the furniture without sophisticated machinery.
In the future, the production will be in workshops where mentally or physically disabled people are employed.
The basic sale and distribution can be done online. The main concept consists of the idea that every customer can decide for himself how he wants to assemble the individual elements. Additionally, the customer should have the possibility to hand in his or her own personal bicycle parts, and therefore have their own unique furniture collection produced.
The recycled bicycle components used in the construction of the furniture are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and also possess an ecologic, pedagogic, and ideal value.
