A Home in California Takes Wing

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A dramatic modern home in the hills above Malibu looks like it is about to soar into the sky. That's not a trick of perception. The roofs of the different structures are made from the wings and tailfin of a 747, which was gutted and used as the foundation for the home.

Architect David Hertz tracked down a decommissioned plane, one of the original 747s used by Pan Am, and paid $35,000 for the remains. Transporting the elements to the site in the Santa Monica Mountains proved to be the biggest challenge, requiring highway closures and helicopter transport.

Other elements were used for different parts of the house, including porthole windows and the lounge area. But the plane elements are more than a gimmick. The industrial theme gives the house a sleek, open look that blends into the hillside. While old planes have been used for houses many times, the elements of the aircraft for the 747 home are integrated into the design, making it more than simply a novelty house.

Construction on the house was completed in 2011. Owner Francie Rehwald sees it as a recycling project, in addition to an architectural statement.

"It is saying reuse, repurpose," she told "CBS This Morning" (see below).

Video: "CBS This Morning"


Video: David Hertz, the 747 Wing House