The 1960s produces a plethora of trends and fads reflecting the changing social landscape of the world. Perhaps none were as bizarre, and ultimately fleeting, as the Futuro House. The brainchild of Matti Suuronen, a Finnish architect, the Futuro house was a prefabricated, portable and plastic home that could be assembled in just a few short days. One of the few remaining Futuro houses sits along NC Highway 12 in Frisco, North Carolina on the lower Outer Banks. It is in a state of disrepair but is definitely worth a 10 minute stop.
The first Futuro house was built in 1968 as a ski chalet near Lake Puulavesi in Finland. It was designed to be easily portable, adaptable for various climates and able to withstand both ocean and mountainous environments. The design really took off when the second construction was displayed at the Finnfocus Export Fair in London in October of 1968. The exhibit alone resulted in over 400 orders for the UFO looking design.
It received a good amount of publicity with articles in the New York Times and advertisements in major publications like Playboy. The Times article, titled “Saucer-Shaped House Arrives on Earth”, came out the same day Apollo 11 landed on the moons surface. Advertisements touted the Futuro House’s ability to “adapt to any terrain and be ideal for Beach, Skiing, Mountain areas and commercial uses.” The excitement was short-lived . . . By the early 70’s a few factors led to the demise of the Futuro house including environmental concerns over excessive use of plastic, the oil crisis and changing municipal zoning laws.
The Futuro House was surprisingly practical so long as you had access to electrical lines and could install plumbing. The structures measured 26’ (8 m) in diameter, 13’ (4 m) in height and weighed approximately 8,800 lb (4,000 kg). It could house 6 seats or chairs, a 2-person bedroom, a fireplace/grill/table combo, a kitchen and a single toilet and bathroom. It incorporated 16 individual parts that could be bolted together and featured, appropriately, a hatch for a front door.
Once represented in over 50 countries around the world, as of this writing there are only 58 Futuro houses still in existence scattered across 4 continents and 17 countries. There are Futuro homes as far away as Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and also in 12 European countries. Finland has five alone including the original Futuro house, now fully restored, at the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Espoo, Finland. Unfortunately some are in complete disrepair though others are enjoying a bit of a renaissance and are being restored to their original state.
To learn more about Futuro houses please visit this amazing website filled with everything that has ever been related to these unique cultural icons.
Do you have a favorite roadside attraction? There are tons of quirky things in every state and country. We’d love to hear about your favorites.
