Where am I living now?

August 4, 2014

Two Futuro Houses joined to make a single structure in Carlisle, Ohio

The Futuro House is another alternative living space. This one was designed in the 1960s as a prefab dwelling that could be used as a weekend get-away and was suited to uneven terrain. Many of these structures still exist around the world and some are still in use as dwellings. The rise in oil prices in the 1970s pushed up the price of plastics that were used extensively throughout the Futuro homes and the company folded.

Imagine stepping inside a flying saucer. Now imagine living in one! In 1968, in light of the postwar boost in technology and space exploration, Finnish designer Matti Suuronen designed the Futuro House. Originally meant to be a modular ski-cabin that could be assembled and disassembled in rough terrain, the round home became an iconic piece of futuristic design. This particular space-age Home has had quite the tune-up, and it recently landed in the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.

The Futuro prefab stands 10 feet high, is 26 feet in diameter, and comes complete with an airplane hatch entrance. Suuronen chose a round design not only for its strength, but also for its ability to feel spacious while keeping material use to a minimum. The walls are made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic, a new lightweight material that made the home both easily transportable and well-insulated. The interior houses up to 8 adults and includes a living room, kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, and bed chairs.

Mobile living seemed like the new possibility for the future. People could take their moveable home wherever they went, and live like modern nomads. However the oil crisis in 1972, production of the Futuro home was shut down as plastic prices nearly tripled. About 100 models were built and only half are estimated to survive today. Though tracking down the private owners of these space houses may prove a bit difficult, one Futuro home is readily available for rent in Wisconsin!

Read more: Futuro Home « Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Living area with cool fire pit

Dining area of a Wisconsin Futuro House which can be rented

7 comments

Very cool. I’d live in one!
by Buck August 4, 2014 at 3:11 pm

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- Don’t they look like fun! I love the airplane hatch entry.
  by Anne Bonney August 5, 2014 at 10:14 am
  
  Reply
Strange but interesting. Might be too hot!
by Carol Carlisle August 5, 2014 at 2:34 am

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- The article says it can house eight adults! That seems to me to be a tight fit even for a vacation get-away.
  by Anne Bonney August 5, 2014 at 10:20 am
  
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If anyone is interested in more information on the Futueo House check out http://www.thefuturohouse.com
by thefuturohouse August 6, 2014 at 8:09 am

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- Thanks for the comment and for your interesting site!
  by Anne Bonney August 6, 2014 at 11:00 am
  
  Reply
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