NYC & Delaware | July 2013 by Nan Palmero is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The Futuro House, designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen looks like something from an old sci-fi movie. You enter through a drop down hatch into the 13-foot high by 26-foot diameter structure. You can relax on one of the 6 “bed chairs” and warm up in front of the fireplace. There is also a small restroom, kitchenette, and dressing room.
The Futuro House in Context
Looking back to the time period in which they were made, the design decisions make a bit more sense. Suuronen was tasked with designing a ski chalet and he took a unique approach. In the 1960s, people in post-war Finland had more free time. A portable, structure able to be mass produced could be very useful in quickly establishing residences or stopping off places in a variety of terrains. The Futuro houses can be heated up from -20 to 60 degrees in about 30 minutes. They can be fully assembled and helicoptered to the site or assembled on site.
A Scarce Commodity
Originally about 100 were made. Unfortunately, when the oil crisis hit in the 1970s the price of plastic tripled and their manufacture became impractical. The original price of $14,000 suddenly became about $40,000! Of the 100 made, about 60 survive today. If you would like to purchase one the price varies widely depending on condition. One was recently listed on eBay for $29,900. The Saint-Ouen Futuro house was listed for $135,000!
Whether you love them or are not quite sure why someone would build such a thing, Futuro houses have a following and can be found around the world from Australia to Antarctica. For more information on all things Futuro such as locations of existing Futuros, more details on their story, and photos, be sure to check out thefuturohouse.com
Craig Barnes, a Futuro enthusiast in the UK recently posted some videos on his Futuro restoration project.
