The Futuro House

The Futuro House was conceived by Matti Suuronen in 1968 as a "portable" ski chalet. It is an iconic piece of architecture and this site is devoted to documenting the history of the Futuro and the current status and whereabouts of the remaining examples.





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Location Information

Peter Bartlett - Canberra Futuro - 100814



Info, History, Photos


Update 102321

The previously documented history of this unit (see the 091312 update to this page) initially placed it at the Building Materials Exhibition Center in Maryborough Street, Fyshwick around 1972. It then spent time on a private farm in Sutton and later moved to the Macquarie Slide Swimming Center (possibly painted red at that time). In 1997 it was relocated to the Dickson Canberra Planetarium site where it would remain until its final move in 2011 to its current location. The whereabouts of the unit between 1991 and 1997 was unknown.

Recently, thanks to Brody Walker, we were able to confirm much of the history and add a little more information, particularly in relation to the 1991 thru 1997 period along with a couple of photos along the way. All of that was courtesy of some press clippings that Brody uncovered and sent us (thank you Brody).

The first of the clippings is a very short article in the 061385 issue of the Canberra Times which notes the arrival of an "unidentified flying object" at the Housing Industry Association's display village in Sweet Place, Chisholm. The "ufo" was to serve as the Canberra Building Society's Living Space Center at the display village.

There is no mention of the name Futuro House and there is no photograph so based solely on this short mention we would not actually know this was anything to do with a Futuro.

Canberra Times 061385

However, an article that was accompanied by photograph in the next days issue of the Canberra Times makes it clear we are talking about a Futuro (and we just love the photo).

Canberra Times 061485

Three years or so later in an article from 100788 we learn that the Futuro had been moved to a second location in Chisolm and was to be auctioned.

Canberra Times 100788

And finally, an article from 052891 puts all of the pieces together for us in terms of documenting that the Futuro located for a time in Chisolm is indeed this Futuro.

This article tells us that the Futuro had been purchased by the Canberra Tradesmen's Union Club and would be relocated to the Dickson site. It also references it being previously located in Chisolm and then at the Macquarie Slide Swimming Center.

It is perhaps possible that it took 6 years to move the Futuro to Dickson but we think it more likely the 1997 date for the units arrival there is incorrect.

So based on this new evidence we can update the history of this unit to go something like this.
Canberra Times 052891

Update 102519

As we have often said on these pages we love black & white photography and we also love to see recent photos of Futuros. In this case we have a "double" with a great back and white shot of this Futuro posted to Instagram 102519 by canberrastreets; the same day (and the same poster but with a different Instagram account) canberrastreetscolour posted the second of the two photos below.

Canberra Futuro By canberrastreets 102519

Canberra Futuro By canberrastreetscolour 102519

Update 081218

We recently received this collection of photos from Peter S.; they were taken in March 2018. The close up shots show a level of structural degradation that is perhaps a little surprising given how recently the unit was restored.

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 1

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 2

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 3

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 4

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 5

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 6

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 7

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 8

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 9

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 10

Canberra Futuro By Peter S - 030218 - 11

Update 061117

Issue 9 of the Australian publication Her Canberra included a fashion shoot which featured the Canberra University Futuro as a backdrop. The photos below can be found on the Devojka Models Facebook page and the video can be found on the Her Canberra website.

Canberra Futuro Devojka Models Facebook Page From Her canberra Magazine Issue 9 - 1

Canberra Futuro Devojka Models Facebook Page From Her canberra Magazine Issue 9 - 2

Canberra Futuro Devojka Models Facebook Page From Her canberra Magazine Issue 9 - 3

Canberra Futuro Devojka Models Facebook Page From Her canberra Magazine Issue 9 - 4


Update 040817

This video by Elucidating Conservation includes some great footage of this Futuro, both exterior and interior; it was added to YouTube 030817.


Update 091016

The 091312 update to this page included mention of this Futuro appearing at the Building Materials Exhibition Center in Maryborough Street, Fyshwick around 1972.

The photo below is of an advertisement from The Canberra Times dated 070172 which matches this exact location and timeframe thus confirming the earlier information. We came across this in a comment on a post on the Futuro House Facebook page. The original newspaper page can be found on trove.nla.gov.au

The Canberra Times - 070172 Ad For Futuro

Update 043016

Finally got around to updating the address, lat/long and embedded Google Map to reflect the slightly different position of this Futuro on the university campus post its restoration; I believe the saying is "better late than never"!

Update 012316

We recently received an email from Daniel Soma in which he wrote:

"I am an artist from Sydney and am currently working on an exhibition (opening 041416) which is a case study of the failure of the Futuro home. It is an investigation of relational consequences that have naturally been undocumented which leave us with a clouded perception of "what went wrong". I find the Futuro home to be a wonderful catapult for this idea, and am consequently using its story for the show."

As a part of his preparation Daniel visited this Futuro on 112315 and the photos below were shot during that visit. We am not sure what form the exhibition will take but it relates to Futuro so we are eagerly awaiting more information.

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 1

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 2

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 3

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 4

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 5

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 6

Canberra Futuro 012316 Daniel Soma 7

Update 080115

Paper By John Greenwood On Proposed Restoration Of University Of Canberra FuturoThe other day we came across this .pdf file from (based on the file name) 2011. The document, titled "We Come In Pieces - Conservation Problems Associated With The Futuro House At The University Of Canberra", is an academic paper by John Greenwood which provides a high level overview of the upcoming restoration project.

The document includes a section that provides a little general Futuro history and construction information, a short section on the history of this particular Futuro House (which confirms earlier information on this page and includes reference to its use as a real estate office and as a feature at a swimming pool) and sections detailing the condition of the Futuro at the time and the plans for its restoration.

University Of Canberra Futuro Restoration - Concept Accessibility Ramp - Never ConstructedThe document also includes the photo at right which depicts a rather interesting and innovative access structure incorporating a ramp that was proposed for the project.

The design was by Anthony Durak, Jordan Evans-Tse and Steven Li and was an entry in a design competition held by the university. In the end this feature was not included in the project.

The original document can be found on the web here.

Update 101114

This week we received an email from Peter Bartlett with photographs of the restored Canberra University Futuro. Our thanks to Peter for sharing these photographs which can be seen below.

With the choice of exterior color this Futuro now reminds us a little of Futuro #001 located at the WeeGee Exhibition Center in Espoo, Finland; but that resemblance is only exterior. The interior shots show the choice to create a "new" interior for this Futuro rather than attempt to create an "original" interior.

We think the restored unit looks awesome and we congratulate the project team on completing a wonderful restoration. It is great to see another Futuro in such fantastic condition.

Completed Futuro Restoration Canberra University 1

Completed Futuro Restoration Canberra University 2

Completed Futuro Restoration Canberra University 3

Completed Futuro Restoration Canberra University 4

Update 040514

The photo below, an artist's impression of the fully restored Futuro, accompanied a 032714 canberratimes.com.au article by Megan Doherty on the restoration project titled "Back to the futuro: iconic buildings headed to University of Canberra." Not really any new information in the article but the artists impression is interesting; note that the exterior color appears to be very similar to that of the restored Futuro at the WeeGee Exhibition Center.

Futuro Restoration Canberra University - Artists Impression

Update 020814

This week we received an update on the Futuro restoration project from Wade who is overseeing the project along with Jon. Thanks Wade - we appreciate it; it is interesting to follow the progress of a Futuro restoration as it happens.

The team is about three months into the project and Wade tells us activity so far includes the following:
Wade also sent us the series of photos below depicting (top to bottom, left to right):
Futuro Restoration Canberra University 1

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 2

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 3

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 4

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 5

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 6

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 7

Wade also sent us these very cool shots of a CAD Model of the Futuro House.

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 5

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 6

Futuro Restoration Canberra University 7

Finally, Wade also mentioned that the team had been contacted by another buyer interested in purchasing and restoring a Futuro House. Wade is aware that the Mallorca and Greenwich Futuros are currently for sale (the Lorne Futuro is no longer for sale) but is also interested in hearing about any others that might be for sale. If you own a Futuro that is for sale or know of one on the market please let us know; we will then pass contact information along to Wade.

Update 121513

Wade & Jon who are overseeing the restoration of this Futuro recently reached out to us and offered to provide updates and photos during the course of their restoration project. We are really looking forward to seeing how things progress. In the meantime the photo below sent to us by Wade will serve as our "before" shot. Thanks Wade & Jon - we are really looking forward to following your progress as you work to return this Futuro to its former glory.

Futuro, Canberra University, Canberra, Australia - Before Refurbishment Shot

Update 112413

It seems the University of Canberra Futuro is finally going to get its major makeover. After being moved to the university campus and reassembled a couple of years ago the Futuro has remained largely unchanged. However in an article posted today on the Canberra Times website we learn that things are now moving along on the restoration front.

The Canberra Times article tells us that:

"After having spent the past two years in a relatively unkempt state at the university, the Futuro has now entered the next phase of its life. It has been pulled apart again and brought to JB Design in Fyshwick where it is being totally refurbished. It will be fitted with a curved desk following the internal circumference and house a wide range of 21st century computing and communications aids ... it will not be taken back to its original colour, a dramatic ochre-yellow that would make it stand out against any background. It will, instead, be finished in a sleek silver livery very similar to the paint scheme it had at the space dome. Regardless of the colour, the structure - which should be reinstalled at the UOC sometime in 2014 - will add a nicely surreal touch to its new home."

We look forward to seeing another Futuro get fully restored and will watch with interest for news of its return to the University campus. The photo below accompanied the article.

Futuro, Canberra University, Canberra, Australia - Canberra Times Photo Of 112413

Update 122312

A second Tim The Yowie Man blog post on canberratimes.com.au, this one dated 122112, recounts a little additional history relating to this Futuro. Our thanks to Yolande Norris who told us about the post.

The post is titled "Truth Is Out There" and in it John "Cooka" Campbell tells of a Futuro that could be found at 14 Currie Crescent, Kingston, ACT in the early 1970's. Campbell is quoted in the article as follows:

"The white flying saucer was there when I moved into 14 Currie Crescent, Kingston, in the early 1970s and still there when I left some six years or so later ..."

Campbell continues:

"Just before I moved in it was used as a real estate office to help sell new developments in the area ..."

The article has this to say about the possible relationship between this unit and the one now located at Canberra University:

"Cooka and fellow housemate Walter Shafron believe "their" flying saucer is the very same futuro that ended up at the Dickson Planetarium and ultimately on the University of Canberra campus ..."

This is not inconsistent with the somewhat spotty history we have of this unit and actually very likely given the geographic proximity of the various locations. We know it was in Fyshwick around 1972 and that it later spent time in Sutton and at the Macquarie Slide Swimming Center but we do not have any dates to go with those locations so it is entirely possible, and in our view probable, that this unit was indeed the one that spent several years on Currie Crescent most likely during the period between Fyshwick and later locations.

If anyone can fill in any of the many gaps that still remain in the history of this unit please let us know.

The photo below, of the Futuro during its time on Currie Crescent, accompanied the blog post.

Futuro 14 Currie Crescent, Kingston, ACT - Early 70's

Update 091312

We have updated the embedded Google Map for this Futuro since the Futuro now shows in Google Maps. Interestingly that imagery does not appear to show yet in Google Earth so we do not know the imagery date and Google has obviously not yet done another pass by with the camera van for "Street View" since the Futuro does not yet show up there either.

An 090712 blog post titled "Beam me up, UC" by Tim The Yowie Man on canberratimes.com.au that includes a couple of cool photos (below) also included some additional history on the Futuro based on research conducted by UC student Erika Ceeney.

Erica's research places the Futuro initially at the Building Materials Exhibition Center in Maryborough Street, Fyshwick around 1972. It seems that the unit subsequently spent time on a private farm in Sutton and later moved to the Macquarie Slide Swimming Center (possibly painted red at that time).

It seems the whereabouts of the unit between 1991 and 1997 are unknown. In 1997 it arrived at the Dickson Canberra Planetarium site.

Sadly it seems clear from the post and the photos that our assumption that the Futuro would be restored might have been in error as its condition does not appear that good. Perhaps a refurbishment is still in the plans - we can only hope so. It would be a shame if it were "rescued" only to then be abandoned.

If anyone has any photos of the Futuro pre 1991 we would love to see them and also if anyone can shed any light on the 1991 to 1997 period during which the Futuro was "MIA" that would be great.

The first three photos below acompanied the article mentioned above. The fourth photo by The Shopping Sherpa, reproduced here under CC 2.0 license, shows the Furturo as it appeared 012112.

Futuro, Canberra University, Canberra, Australia - Photo By Tim The Yowie Man - 1

Futuro, Canberra University, Canberra, Australia - Photo By Tim The Yowie Man - 2 & 3

Futuro, Canberra University, Canberra, Australia - Shopping Sherpa 012112

Original Information 091211

Ok - so the observant ones among you will note that the Google Map does NOT show the Futuro - what's the deal - is this project not supposed to be providing accurate data? Well we are unfortunately limited by the date of satellite imagery available in Google which currently shows this Futuro at its old location at the Canberra Planetarium - the Dickson Futuro. The date of imagery returned when looking up either location is 022908 - since the Futuro was relocated early 2011 the Google Map data shows no Futuro here even though there is one (and conversely it still shows a Futuro in Dickson that is actually no longer there).

We believe we have the correct location in Google Maps based on a University of Canberra Media Center article that indicates that the Futuro will be located "adjacent to buildings 10 and 11".

The same Media Center article quoted the University Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker discussing the Futuro restoration project:

"The University of Canberra has expertise in teaching and research in cultural heritage and heritage conservation through its Donald Horne Institute ... The arrival of the Futuro building enables us to offer a unique practical conservation exercise for our students and staff in conservation. It provides a wonderful case study for our students in architecture, design and planning ... It also enables us to use our expertise in the heritage field to benefit the wider community by ensuring continued access to an iconic piece of design ... Plus I believe we are now the only university in the world to have its own flying saucer.

Parker also blogged about the Futuro.

There appears to be a spirit of camaraderie and co-operation between individuals and institutions interested in the preservation of Suuronen's legacy; this is of course a positive for all those who are fascinated by Futuro. A great example of that is this email from Lydia Beerkens, Senior conservator of Modern Art who oversaw the Prototype #000 restoration in the Netherlands to the Canberra University team offering support, assistance and information.

The closure of the Canberra Planetarium and the subsequent move of the Futuro to the university campus was the subject of an interesting radio segment April 20th 2011; the audio from 666 ABC Canberra's "Mornings with Alex Sloan" can be downloaded from here (4.54 MB MP3).

This video includes footage of and interviews related to the University Of Canberra's restoration of the Futuro previously located at the Canberra Planetarium - the Dickson Futuro


Sources
In Books & Magazines
Latest Confirmation

Canberra University - Latest Confirmation - 013124 - canberrastreetsThis photograph by canberrastreets posted 013124.

The original photograph can be seen on Instagram here.

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