Core77

Repurposed Macs, from Class to Crass

By Rain Noe - October 24, 2014

in Object Culture

It is a shame that the Power Mac G5, and the first-generation Mac Pro, are these beautiful hunks of aluminum that have no present-day use. While the conscientious may deliver them to recycling facilities, wouldn't it be cool if the shells could be usefully repurposed? Germany-based designer Klaus Geiger thought so, and machined a solid piece of walnut to perfectly match the radii in the G5 tower's handles.

Though Geiger's one-off bench was created for a freecycling event in Freiburg, he subsequently became intrigued by the idea of upcycling G5 shells, stating "they are simply too good to be disposed of." He produced at least a couple of other pieces, like the one seen up top and this rolling set of drawers...

...then cranked out some renderings to show what a full line might look like:

Geiger's of course not the first to repurpose old Macs; his just look the classiest and work well as design pieces. On the less-advisable front, these gents turned their G5 into an iGrill (and warped the "grate" the first time out):

This guy went more sensible and created a simple clock:

Along the clock lines, and going back further in time to the Mac G4, I've gotta give this person props for adding a working pendulum:

This G4 is too obsolete to get email, but ready for snailmail:

The poor G4 Cube doesn't get much respect in its afterlives as a tissue box and toaster:

On the respect front, you could argue that this Mac Mini's got it worse:

Remember that old dome-base iMac? Turns out it makes a great lamp:

There are also a lot of people who've turned the first iMac and older Mac classics into a Macquarium. And this dude in Japan also makes and sells them.

And I wasn't able to track down the original source for this one, but I feel like this graveyard of early Macs giving new life to plants is somewhere in Japan.

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EP

10 years ago

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I remember reading somewhere that these chassis were really expensive to make. Really thick aluminum.

Don't recycle one, they empty shells are still worth a lot more on Ebay.

I bought one as non-working, and was going to make something out of it. Ended up getting it working and sold the whole thing anyways.
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leoni

10 years ago

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"oops i just turned my apple 1 into a bbq...." LOL
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powers

10 years ago

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Brings a whole new meaning to "Aqua Interface"
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RobM

10 years ago

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I love the idea. I wonder how available the shells are. As cast aluminum the recyclers have got to be making a killing.
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Alaina

10 years ago

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I would totally buy the bench with drawers in the macs. I agree that they are too pretty and were too awesome to throw in the garbage.
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C

10 years ago

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Good for a kids desk I suppose....
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