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Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Futuro House Project - Information, Photos & Locations

The Futuro House
AN ONGOING SPECIAL FEATURE - UPDATED 102913

More accurately called Futuro Houses these 20th Century prefabricated homes are often referred to as "UFO Houses". I first came across the Futuro House at the beginning of July 2011 right after I had started this website and the one in Royse City, TX, USA became the subject of one of my early articles. Since then I have been fascinated by the Futuro House and I have spent ...     [Image By Runder]




102913 - The Futuro House project Moves To Its Own Domain

In the couple of years or so since I caught the Futuro "bug" this "blog post" has far exceeded what I envisaged and it has completely outgrown its home. It deserves and now has its own website and domain:



This content will remain here but future updates will take place on the new website so please update any bookmarks you might have to point to TheFuturoHouse.com and if you are one of those individuals who has web content linked to these pages please also update those links to point to TheFuturoHouse.com



... many an hour in front of my monitor and tapping on my keyboard researching and collecting all manner of information pertaining to Matti Suuronen's legacy. This "Futuro House Project" is my home for all things Futuro. It is a work in progress and my expectation is that it will be regularly updated as I uncover more information about the Futuro House.

The Most Complete Map Of Futuro Locations AnywhereI have made every effort to provide accurate and verified information and as at the date posted information is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate. In particular I have tried to be accurate about the locations of the Futuro Houses; more specifically I made every effort to find them in Google Earth and then to provide the satellite imagery date - clearly as at that date location information must be accurate. No doubt there will be changes; houses will have moved after that date; most likely some of my information will be inaccurate or lacking in detail. I would appreciate all the Futuro fans out there taking an active part in this project. If you can correct something, verify something, add some detail or history, add an image or add video please use the Futuro Contact Form below or email me - any assistance will be greatly appreciated and all contributions will receive full attribution.

Now immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Futuro House.



This article uses Javascript to manipulate the display of page elements. If you are reading the article via a feed and page elements do not display correctly or are missing the original article may be accessed here. I use IE - yes I know I am a dinosaur - if you experience problems using other browsers please le me know and I will try to address the issues.



043013 - Futuro architect Matti Suuronen passes 041613

Today brings very sad news in the "Futuro" world. Architect Matti Suuronen has died at the age of 79. My sympathies go out to his family and friends. He will be missed but his legacy lives on.

Suuronen's passing is reported this morning in an article in the Helsinki based newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

The following is a rough translation of the article [based on a Google translation]

"Futuro house architect Matti Suuronen died in Espoo, Finland, 16 April 2013. He was born 1933, and at his death was 79 years old. Suuronen was a pioneer in the processing of reinforced plastic for construction, the best known example was the ellipse-shaped Futuro, which he designed in 1968. Less than a hundred pieces of the spacecraft looking Futuro were built, of which five have survived (in Finland - my addition). One of them is the collection of the WeeGee Exhibition Centre."



THE FUTURO HOUSE PROJECT FORUM

NEW 021113 - I figured a forum would make an interesting and useful addition to The Futuro House Project. I am hoping it will become a place for discussion, opinions, news and other Futuro related content and not a "Ghost Town". Time will tell.


PROJECT UPDATE HISTORY - FIND THE LATEST CONTENT

GENESIS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL ICON

CONCEPT, DESIGN, MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING

SO JUST HOW DID THEY GET TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING?

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? [OR WHERE WERE THEY?]

I WANT ONE [OR IF I CAN'T HAVE ONE CAN I AT LEAST GET THE EXPERIENCE?]

BITS & PIECES - FUTURO STUFF THAT DOES NOT FIT ANYWHERE ELSE

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE - A PHOTO GALLERY

COLLECTOR'S CORNER - MY COLLECTION OF THINGS "FUTURO"

RESOURCES - WEB, MEDIA, VIDEO, PRINT

FUTURO CONTACT FORM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


081212 - A Note On My Use Of Images

All images used on thse pages are attributed by means of a name and a link to the original image or article containing the image. Where necessary permission to display the image has either already been given or there has not yet been a response to a request for permission that was made at the time the image was added.

I used to wait until I got a response to requests before publishing but in 100% of requests made since I started this project around 12 months ago I have always been given permission to use images.

Therefore going forward I intend to request permission as I always have but publish images with appropriate attribution at the time so I do not subsequently have to go back and edit pages to add them.

  • If you find an image you own used on one of my pages that you would like removed please let me know and I will do so immediately.
  • If you would like the attribution used for one of your images please let me know and I will make the appropriate edits immediately.



24 comments:

  1. Just discovered one on Co. Hwy J outside of Rockland, WI on 9/1/2012. This is near La Crosse, WI.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have a pic of one that my friend came across in New Zealand. I will just try to get a more accurate location before I send the photo. How do I do this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi - you can email a photo to

      publishing@thegrumpyoldlimey.com

      Thanks

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    2. Done. Could be in Australia north of Brisbane. Friend just did recent trip and knows my interest.

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  3. Very impressive site, statistics and details. Great work! I own the one in Wisconsin that is for rent (www.podupnorth.com) and it is great to continue to learn more and more about what I own from you, Len and others. Keep up the great research.

    Thanks,

    Drew

    ReplyDelete
  4. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10863667 A Futuro has gone on the market in Raglan :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Angelina

      Yep I saw that and don't I just wish I had the money to be a bidder in the auction March 2nd - the real estate listing can be found at Ray White Real Estate.

      Check out my page on the Raglan Futuro for more.

      Delete
  5. I recall the aquashel floating in the old Morpeth dock in Birkenhead, and something similar by Hueco Tanks, near El Paso, TX.

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    Replies
    1. yep thats right i was a director of the company which was Fulcramatic Ltd in the field of research and design, the CEO Anthony is no longer alive i believe. The floating house was called "the Aquashell" I was partially in charge of the project. "Tomorrows World" the UK TV program featured it and is was televised worldwide for one network. Ours were build to float on water with underwater divers hatch, windows were fitted with escape hatch and explosive bolts. The services were through an umbilical chord. i did have a brochure but i'm not sure where it is now.

      regards

      Chas Seadon chas.seadon@gmail.com

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    2. Just to add, we built three of these in Birkenhead the mold for building them were at our factory there on Morpeth dock. Chas

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    3. Intersting to hear from you Chas - thanks for adding that little bit of history.

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  6. Does anyone know where the junk ones are located that have been abandonedcontact me if anyone knows robbym2009@Hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Media Pennsylvania has an abandoned one needing to be brought back to life. The one on Outer Banks, NC may be available.

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  7. I remember going inside the one in Royse city Tx when it had the complete interior and all windows. Next time I went by everything had been stripped out but a new driveway had been built. I thought it was going to be restored but no change. I wonder where all the interior and windows went.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Any clue as to the Austin Futuro location? Whoever captured the Google Map image must surely know.

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    Replies
    1. I captured the Google Maps image and so, as you correctly state, I do know the location. However, the owner of the Austin Futuro has asked that the location be lept private and in order to respect that wish for privacy I have withheld the location information. I know everyone would agree that is the right thing to do. Privacy is a valuable and sometimes scarce commodity these days.

      Delete
  9. Where do you find the serial number or the tag that says what number it was in production. Just wondering what the production number is on the one in Royce city.

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    Replies
    1. I have never been able to find out where the number might be found and I have looked all over the Royce City one in person and not seen any sign of it.

      Delete
  10. I see that there is a website for the one that has come to the UK from SA, nothing on it yet though.
    www.futurohouse.co.uk

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  11. There was one sitting in the boatyard in Thames NZ, but seems to have recently vanished

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  12. We have a Futuro Shell on our property in NJ. Does anyone have input on the value of it? I do have a current offer.

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    Replies
    1. Who did you sell it to? It was the one in Greenwich NJ right?

      Delete
  13. The Futuro House that is in Millcreek Park in Willingboro, New Jersey, was definitely first used as a bank at the Village Mall (a strip mall adjacent to Route 130) off of the Somerset section of Willingboro, New Jersey. I lived close by at the time. It arrived there in 1973, as this article states. For more corraboration, go to the John F. Kennedy High School Facebook groups for people who graduated in the '60s and '70s, and most of them will remember. http://www.phillyburbs.com/spaceship-lands-in-willingboro/article_bb1eba9c-cb27-56d7-82ed-e653e7b3acd5.html

    ReplyDelete