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.





TheFuturoHouse.com | Latest Site News & Updates

For the latest site news and updates check out the Site Update History Page


This Page | "Things Futuro"/Books M-R
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About "Things Futuro" | TheFuturoHouse.com Collection

Our interest in the Futuro House quickly became our passion for the Futuro House and eventually, perhaps some might say, our obsession with the Futuro House. We collect books, magazines, collectibles and other items that relate to the Futuro House in some way. As is the case with all collections it started off relatively small with easy to obtain pieces but over time it has become quite extensive and worthy of "Futuro Nuts".

The collection contains all manner of items from unique original pieces from the early days of Futuro through contemporary mass-produced items and everything in between. At the time of the latest update to this page the collection comprises 556 physical items plus 164 "digital" items (in particular digital copies of newspaper articles) and these pages are effectively the collection's "catalog".

Additional items can also be found in The Charles Cleworth Futuro House Archive and in several smaller collections and archives.

As is the case with most collectors we are always looking to add to this collection so if you have Futuro related items for sale or know of any Futuro items for sale please let us know.

A Few Notes Relating To This Collection
  • Out Of Date Item Descriptions: Item descriptions were accurate at the time collection items were acquired but may have become outdated since. In the event that information pertaining to an item has changed following the reference links in item descriptions will take you to pages where that updated information can be found.
  • Translation: There are a number of items in this collection in languages other than English. While Google Translate can be a valuable tool it is never as good as a true translation by a bi-lingual person. Such items will display a "Translate" icon. If you are able and would be willing to translate an item please click the "Translate" icon for that item to send an email requesting high res files for the purposes of translation. Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. You would receive full attribution for the translation along with a link to your own website (or other website of your choosing) and you would also have the satisfaction of knowing your are contributing to the Futuro knowledge store here on this website.
  • Copyright: These pages contain photographs of various books, magazines and other items in this collection. Many of these items, and certainly the majority of the books and magazines are subject to copyright and the images are deliberately of a fairly low resolution and are used here simply to catalogue this collection and to provide you with a glimpse of what you would be getting if you chose to follow a similar path to us and purchase any of these items for yourself. If you wish to display any of this subject matter on your own website or otherwise use it please respect the publishers copyright and purchase your own copy.
  • Amazon Links: These pages are not aimed at advertising and we are not trying to sell you anything. However, there are expenses with keeping up a website such as this and we spend a great deal of time researching and trying to maintain this site as the most up to date and complete Futuro House resource on the web. So if, and only if, you already intend to purchase for yourself something we have in this collection please consider using the links provided here to do so if the price is right (we strongly suggest exploring other online retailers as well before making a purchase; most of the links here are to Amazon and while their prices are almost always competitive they are not always the cheapest). Doing this will not increase your cost but it will earn us a small (and it is small) commission on the sale that will be put towards our recurring web hosting costs. You know what the proverbial "they" say - every little helps!
  • Item Loans: We have in the past loaned items to institutions for various exhibitions (details here) and, on a case by case basis, are prepared to do so again in the future. If you are interested in such a loan please contact us with details of the Institution and/or Exhibition making the inquiry, the dates the items would be required and which items you are interested in displaying.
Sections Of The Collection

Books M-R

Listed below are books (titles starting M-R) included in this collection.

Latest Update(s)/Addition(s) ***
  1. Made In Banlieues | Written By Diane Cazelles | French | Purchased 062917
  2. Micro: Very Small Buildings | Written By Ruth Slavid | Purchased 092912
  3. Mika Taanila: Human Engineering | Written By Heike Munder | Purchased 041915
  4. Mobile Architektur: Geschichte und Entwicklung transportabler und modularer Bauten | Written By Matthias Ludwig | Purchased 021414
  5. Modern architecture of France | Written By N. K. Soloviev, V. S. Turchin & V. M. Firsanov | Russian | Purchased 022322
  6. Modern Scandinavian Design | Written By Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell & Magnus Englund | Purchased 102117
  7. Modes & Travaux | Written By Patricia Wagner & Élodie Lantelme | Purchased 021420
  8. Move House | Written By Sean Topham | Purchased 012913
  9. Muovikirja | Hannele Nyman & Tuula Poutasuo | Finnish | Purchased 092813
  10. My Old Kentucky Road Trip | Written By Cameron M. Ludwick & Blair Thomas Hess | Purchased 040715
  11. Nelson Observed | Written By Christopher B. Vine | Purchased 071518
  12. Nightwatch - Painting with Light | Photography By Noel Kerns | Purchased 061914
  13. North Carolina Curiosities, 4th (Curiosities Series) | Written By Kent Priestley & Jon Elliston | Purchased 080212
  14. Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country | Written By Craig Pittman | Purchased 070816
  15. Ohio Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, 2nd Edition | Written By Sandra Gurvis | Purchased 080212
  16. *** Open House: Designing Spaces for Living | Edited By Simon Lamunière | French/English | Purchased 111022
  17. Parasite Paradise | Various Authors & Contributors | Purchased 022413
  18. Permanent Change: Plastics in Architecture and Engineering | Edited By Michael Bell & Craig Buckley | Purchased 041714
  19. Pikkuväen Askartelukirja | Written By Raija Kojola | Finnish | Purchased 093017
  20. Plastic Culture | Written By Woodrow Phoenix | Purchased 102412
  21. Plastics | Written By Stephan Engelsmann | Purchased 031014
  22. Plastiques Et Architecture | Written By Jean Audouin | French | Purchased 122319
  23. Pop Rauha Rakkaus | Edited By Maija-Riitta Rock & Ville-Matti Rautjoki | Finnish | Purchased 101913
  24. Prefab Houses Written by Arnt Cobbers & Oliver Jahn | Purchased 112712
  25. Quasar Khanh : Designer visionnaire | Written By Marc Mineray | French | Purchased 122319
  26. RADAR: Internationale Kunstausstellung in der Stadt | Edited By Norbert Weber | Purchased 020814
  27. Rheinisch-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften - Vorträge N 251 | Hans Ebner & Helmut Domke | German | 021017
  28. Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem | Written By Britt-Marie Trensmar | Swedish | Purchased 092413
  29. Rummel im Plänterwald | Edited By Christopher Flade, Ludwig Neumann & Dacha Szabo | German | Purchased 021419

Made In Banlieues | Purchased 062917

TranslateMade In Banlieues written by Diane Cazelles with photography by Guillaume De Laubier is subtitled "Voyages Inattendus Aux Portes De Paris" or, according to Google Translate "Unexpected Journeys To The Doors Of Paris".

The book takes the reader on a journey around the Paris suburbs in words and photographs.

The Saint-Ouen Futuro is featured on the cover of the book and in an article that runs pages 190 through 195. The article includes several nice photographs of the Futuro.

Made In Banlieues - Cover

Made In Banlieues - Page 191

Made In Banlieues - Page 192/193

Made In Banlieues - Page 194/195

  • Author: Diane Cazelles
  • Photographer: Guillaume De Laubier
  • Paperback: 340 Pages
  • Publisher: Editions de la Martinière; LA MARTINIERE edition
  • Language: French
  • ISBN-10: 2732440809
  • ISBN-13: 978-2732440804
  • Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 1.1 x 7.7 inches
Mobile Architektur | Purchased 021414

Mobile Architektur Geschichte und Entwicklung transportabler und modularer Bauten (German Edition) - CoverTranslateMobile Architektur: Geschichte und Entwicklung transportabler und modularer Bauten (German Edition) written by Matthias Ludwig is subtitled "History and development of portable and modular buildings" [Google Translation].

The book is in German so we are unable to read it but it appears the title and subtitle of the book are very descriptive. The cover showcases the Futuro and pages 122-123 feature an article on the IKA or Internationale Kunststoffhaus Ausstellung der Welt; an 1971 exhibition in Lüdenscheid, Germany that featured a Futuro among other structures.

Mobile Architektur Pages 122-123

  • Author: Matthias Ludwig
  • Hardcover: 149 pages
  • Publisher: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt (1998)
  • Language: German
  • ISBN-10: 3421031401
  • ISBN-13: 978-3421031402
  • Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
Modern Scandinavian Design | Purchased 102117

Modern Scandinavian Design - CoverModern Scandinavian Design by Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell & Magnus Englund is a rather chunky "Coffee Table Book". An article titled "Houses Of The Future" on pages 56-57 provides a little information on Polykem and the work of Matti Suuronen and it is accompanied by photos of both Futuro and Venturo.

The Futuro photo shows the Harewood Futuro during its short 2006/2007 stay in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. There are also photos of a drawing and a plan which are actually from this collection and credited to TheFuturoHouse.com.

Modern Scandinavian Design - Pages 56-57

  • Authors: Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell & Magnus Englund
  • Hardcover: 592 pages
  • Publisher: Laurence King Publishing (October 17, 2017)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1786270528
  • ISBN-13: 978-1786270528
  • Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 2 x 12.6 inches
Move House | Purchased 012913

Move House written by Sean Topham takes a look at a variety of mobile, prefabricated and other "non-standard" housing ideas and projects.

The forty or so specific projects discussed in the book are all late 1990's or 2000's. In the first, and introductory, chapter which recounts some of the history of innovative and unusual architecture of a mobile, or at least portable, nature Topham includes a brief paragraph on the Futuro House. The content is generic and we learn nothing new about the Futuro House. There is also a single photo.

Move House - Cover

Move House - Page 15

  • Author: Sean Topham
  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Prestel Publishing (May 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 379133056X
  • ISBN-13: 978-3791330563
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
Muovikirja | Purchased 092813

Muovikirja CoverTranslateMuovikirja is a book in Finnish and is yet another in the growing list of things we have to get translated at some point. The book is sub-titled "Arkitavaraa ja designesineitä" which Google Translate tells us means "The stuff everyday and design objects." The Google translation is clearly not very precise but the book is equally clearly focused on design.

For the most part the book seems to deal with smaller objects and interior design but on pages 144 and 145 we find a small section on Matti Suuronen which covers both Futuro and Venturo; there is one picture of the Futuro once located in Hirvensalmi, Finland and now located at the WeeGee Exhibition Center.

We obtained our copy of this book on Adlibris and to date we have not found a copy elsewhere. Adlibris ships only within Scandinavia so if you were interested in obtaining a copy outside of that region you would need someone with a Scandinavian address to take delivery of the book from Adlibris and then forward it on.

Muovikirja Pages 144 & 145

  • Author: Hannele Nyman & Tuula Poutasuo
  • Hardcover: 223 pages
  • Publisher: WSOY 2004
  • Language: Finnish
  • ISBN-10: 9510291323
  • ISBN-13: 978-9510291320
  • Product Dimensions: 9.75 x 0.5 x 8.9 inches
Nelson Observed | Purchased 071518

Nelson Observed: Portraits Of A New Zealand Province is by Christopher B. Vine and it showcases his talents for both drawing and writing as it presents a commentary on the buildings and architectural styles found in the area.

The book includes a brief mention of the Pohara Futuro though the small drawing is captioned "The Space Age arrives at Pohara" and there is actually no spcific mention of Futuro. The book was published in 1992 which indicates the Pohara Futuro was on site at that time or earlier. Previously we had not been able to place it there any earlier that 2003.

Nelson Observed - Front Cover

Nelson Observed - Page 86

  • Author: Christopher B. Vine
  • Paperback: 103 pages
  • Publisher: Nelson Institute (1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0473016214
  • ISBN-13: 978-0473016210
  • Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 0.3 x 8.25 inches
North Carolina Curiosities, 4th Ed. | Purchased 080212

North Carolina Curiosities - CoverNorth Carolina Curiosities, 4th: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series) written by Kent Priestley & Jon Elliston includes a two page article on the Frisco Futuro that is accompanied by a single photo.

Unlike other books in the "Curiosities" series that feature small "Futuro" articles this one does actually add a little history to the "knowledge pool" and so has some value in addition to being a "collector's piece". It would also be a useful book when planning a North Carolina vacation.

North Carolina Curiosities Page 248

North Carolina Curiosities Page 248

  • Authors: Kent Priestley & Jon Elliston
  • Editor: Constance Richards
  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Globe Pequot; Fourth edition (April 12, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 076275995X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0762759958
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
Parasite Paradise | Purchased 022413

Parasite Paradise - CoverParasite Paradise is the work of a long list of authors and contributors and, in the context of architecture, defines Parasites as "flexible and temporary structures, designed by artists or architects, that feed off of existing infrastructure."

To be honest we are not sure we quite follow that definition but from a Futuro perspective we do find an article on the Futuro House that includes some nice photographs. The Futuro content primarily relates to the 2001 SKOR exhibition in Amsterdam, Netherlands that featured Futuro #000.

Parasite Paradise Page 9

Parasite Paradise Page 10

Parasite Paradise Pages 38-39

Parasite Paradise Page 37

Parasite Paradise Page 42

Parasite Paradise Pages 40-41

  • Authors & Contributors: Various
  • Paperback: 190 pages
  • Publisher: NAi Publishers (February 2, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9056623303
  • ISBN-13: 978-9056623302
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
Plastic Culture | Purchased 102412

Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World written by Woodrow Phoenix is a book all about plastics and toys. We are not entirely sure how the leap to a Futuro is made but it is.

On page 100 we find a nice photograph of the Danvers Futuro. The oposite page carries the captions for a number of photos including the Futuro under the description "In an age of plastic culture, why settle for the merely functional when a witty design can be fun to use?" Our opinion; the design of the Futuro was entirely functional and fun too!

Plastic Culture Cover

Plastic Culture Page 100

  • Author: Woodrow Phoenix
  • Hardcover: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Kodansha International (August 18, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 4770030177
  • ISBN-13: 978-4770030177
  • Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.8 x 0.7 inches
Pop Rauha Rakkaus | Purchased 101913

TranslatePop Rauha Rakkaus published by the Lahti City Museum is subtitled "1960's and 70's life and phenomena" (assuming Google Translate is accurate). The book is available (at the time of writing) for purchase on Adlibris (Finnish shipping address required). Adlibris decribes the book as being a (Google translation):

"Lahti Art Museum publication produced by a collection of various sectors and individuals operating colorful articles. The articles Thresholds. nuorisoidoleihin era, communal living, arts events, and nature conservation. Publication offers glimpses of the world moved to the decades of interesting phenomena."

On page 63 we find a photograph of the Dombai Futuro. The accompanying text does mention the Futuro but we have not yet had this translated so we have no idea what it actually says.

Pop Rauha Rakkaus Cover

Pop Rauha Rakkaus Page 63

  • Editors: Maija-Riitta Rock & Ville-Matti Rautjoki
  • Hardcover: 95 pages
  • Publisher: Lahti City Museum (2008)
  • Language: Finnish
  • ISBN-10: 9519679995
  • ISBN-13: 978-9519679990
  • Product Dimensions: 9.0 x 0.375 x 9.0 inches
RADAR: Dokumentation | Purchased 020814

RADAR: Internationale Kunstausstellung in der Stadt (International Art Exhibition In The City) was an extensive outdoor exhibition that ran from 062890 to 090290 in the town of Kotka, Finland. The exhibition was curated by German Norbert Weber. RADAR featured works by 16 artists and among them was Helsinki born Jussi Kivi (Finnish Wikipedia page | Google translation to English here). Kivi's contribution to RADAR was an installation titled "The Eagle Has Landed - Unidentified Flying Object - An Exhibition About UFOs". For more information on RADAR see Futuro Exhibitions.

This book appears to have served as the de facto catalog (it is included in this section of these pages rather than the Catalogs & Guides section because it has an ISBN number) for RADAR and was edited by Norbert Weber who curated the exhibition; it includes a single photo of the Futuro on display. There are also photographs of the interior displays in the two containers that accompanied the Futuro; the containers featured various UFO related paraphernalia. The Futuro displayed at RADAR was the original prototype, Futuro #000, now a part of the collection of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in the Netherlands.

We found this copy of the book on E-Bay and at this time we have not seen it available on any other sites (though we do recall seeing one a while ago on GetTextBooks.com).

RADAR: Dokumentation Cover

RADAR: Dokumentation Page 29

  • Editor: Norbert Weber
  • Paperback: 56 pages
  • Publisher: NEMO - Kunst in Nordeuropa (1991)
  • Language: Swedish, English & German
  • ISBN-10: 3928404008
  • ISBN-13: 978-3928404006
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.25 inches
Rheinisch-Westfälische Akademie der ... | Purchased 021017

TranslateThis 1975 German language educational book is titled "Rheinisch-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften" which translates, according to Google Translate, to "The Academy of Sciences of the Rhineland-Westphalia - Lectures 251".

The book covers two topics; basics for the design of platforms and containers for marine technology and problems with the use of plastics for load-bearing structures.

The Futuro does not appear to be mentioned in the text as far as we can tell but there is a single photo on page 85.

Rheinisch-Westfalische Akademie der Wissenschaften - Cover

Rheinisch-Westfalische

  • Authors: Hans Ebner & Helmut Domke
  • Series: Rheinisch-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  • Paperback: 117 pages
  • Publisher: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften; 1975 edition
  • Language: German
  • ISBN-10: 3531082515
  • ISBN-13: 978-3531082516
  • Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.3 x 9.6 inches
Rummel im Plänterwald | Purchased 021419

Rummel im Planterwald - CoverTranslateRummel im Plänterwald edited by Christopher Flade, Ludwig Neumann & Dacha Szabo documents the history of Kulturpark Plänterwald which opened in Berlin in 1969 and was later known as Spreepark before closing in the early 2000's.

The Berlin Futuro was located at the park until current owner Cora Geißler found it abandoned and purchased it around 2002. Based on this book the Futuro was actually used at the park only until around 1996; from 1997 on the Futuro no longer appeared on the park maps.

Rummel im Planterwald - Pages 34-35

Rummel im Planterwald - Pages 36-37

  • Edited By: Christopher Flade, Ludwig Neumann & Dacha Szabo
  • Hardcover: 285 Pages
  • Publisher: Büchner-Verlag eG, Marburg
  • Language: German
  • ISBN-10: 3963171030
  • ISBN-13: 978-3963171031
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
Quasar Khanh : Designer visionnaire | Purchased 122319

Quasar Khanh Designer visionnaire - CoverTranslateQuasar Khanh was a Vietnamese engineer, inventor and designer. At the age of 15 Khanh moved to Paris, France and established himself as the most significant Vietnamese furniture designer of the 20th century. Quasar Khanh : Designer visionnaire, published in 2017, takes a look at the work of Khan.

The book also includes a short feature on Matti Suuronen and the Saint-Ouen Futuro titled "Matti Suuronen, Le design Utopique" ("Matti Suuronen, Utopian Design"). The book is in French and without a translation we are a little unclear as to the relationship between Khanh and the Futuro.

Quasar Khanh : Designer visionnaire - Page 48

Quasar Khanh : Designer visionnaire - Page 49

  • Author: Marc Mineray
  • Hardcover: 239 Pages
  • Publisher: Albin Michel (March 1, 2017)
  • Language: French
  • ISBN-10: 222632156X
  • ISBN-13: 978-2226321565
  • Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 1.2 x 11 inches
Modes & Travaux | Purchased 021420

TranslateModes & Travaux is a French language monthly general interest women's magazine based in Paris, France that was founded, according to Wikipedia, in 1919 and is one of the oldest magazines in the country.

Modes & Travaux - Une histoire de la femme française is a compendium book written by Patricia Wagner & Élodie Lantelme that includes unpublished archival material from the magazine.

The Amazon description of the book includes this summary:

"From the reconstruction of the nation after the First World War to the end of the carefree attitude of the Roaring Twenties, from the great economic crisis of the 1930s to the tremendous economic expansion of the Thirty Glorious Years, from the obtaining of the right to vote of women to the right to abortion: nearly a century of history of France and French women, told by the unpublished archives of the magazine."

Page 225 includes a rather interesting photo that shows the Saint-Ouen Futuro back in its CNIT days in the background.

The photo shows a woman in her car using a "mobile phone" (though clearly not quite the mobile phone we are all so used to and seem to depend on for everything). The text accompanying the photos suggests that such a phone is highly recommended to help the women of the 1980's enhance comfort and avoid wasting time.

Modes & Travaux - Cover

Modes & Travaux - Page 225

  • Authors: Patricia Wagner & Élodie Lantelme
  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: SOLAR (October 2, 2014)
  • Language: French
  • ISBN-10: 2263066063
  • ISBN-13: 978-2263066061
  • Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 1.1 x 13.8 inches
Open House: Designing ... | Purchased 111022

Open House Designing Spaces for Living - CoverOpen House: Designing Spaces for Living edited by Simon Lamunière was published in conjunction with a two-year research project and an open-air exhibition of the same title in Geneva in summer 2022.

The Haigerloch Futuro made a road trip to be a part of the exhibition 061122 thru 082822 (as a part of Session 4 of the exhibition).

The book includes a couple of photos along with some general Futuro history (in both English and French) on pages 142 thru 145.

Open House: Designing Spaces for Living Pages 142-143

Open House: Designing Spaces for Living Pages 144-145

  • Editor: Simon Lamunière
  • Publisher: ‎Scheidegger and Spiess; Bilingual edition (November 8, 2022)
  • Language‏: ‎English
  • Paperback: ‎336 pages
  • ISBN-10: ‎3858818852
  • ISBN-13: ‎978-3858818850
  • Item Weight: ‎1.5 pounds
  • Dimensions: ‎6.25 x 1 x 9 inches
Micro: Very Small Buildings | Purchased 092912

Micro Very Small Buildings - CoverMicro: Very Small Buildings written by Ruth Slavid is an interesting read in it's own right quite apart from any "Futuro" interest; the book discusses examples of very small buildings or what might be termed "micro architecture".

You could argue that the "Futuro" interest is very "micro" as well as the architecture; Futuro is mentioned on page 200 only in as much as it perhaps influenced the design, by Marco Koeppel & Carlo Matinez, of the Schlafhaus. A book we would imagine is probably one for only for the most rabid of Futuro "nuts".

Micro: Very Small Buildings Cover Pages 200-201

  • Author: Ruth Slavid
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Laurence King Publishers (September 6, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 185669495X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1856694957
  • Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
Mika Taanila: Human Engineering | Purchased 041915

Mika Taanila Human Engineering - CoverMika Taanila: Human Engineering written by Heike Munder contains commentary (in both German and English) on Finnish film director Mika Taanila's work along with images from those works.

Taanila directed the 29 minute 1998 documentary "Futuro: A New Stance for Tomorrow" and along with commentary on Taanila's work the book includes a chapter containing images from this film on pages 94-111. A DVD of this documentary that includes "bonus footage" is included with the definitive book "Futuro: Tomorrow's House from Yesterday" edited by Taanila along with Futuro historian Marko Home.

Mika Taanila  Pages 94-95

Mika Taanila  Pages 96-97

Mika Taanila  Pages 98-99

Mika Taanila  Pages 100-101

Mika Taanila  Pages 102-103

Mika Taanila  Pages 104-105

Mika Taanila  Pages 106-107

Mika Taanila  Pages 108-109

Mika Taanila  Pages 110-111

  • Author: Heike Munder
  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: JPR/Ringier and Migros Museum (2005)
  • Language: German & English
  • ISBN-10: 3905701324
  • ISBN-13: 978-3905701326
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
My Old Kentucky Road Trip | Purchased 040715

My Old Kentucky Road Trip - CoverMy Old Kentucky Road Trip "follows" native Kentuckians Cameron M. Ludwick and Blair Thomas Hess as they "explore all the amazing and irreplaceable things that make the state one of a kind".

We have never visited Kentucky but it seems like this book would be a handy little guide to "things to do" in addition to visting the states Futuro should we decide to take a road trip in the future.

Pages 146-147 feature the Covington Futuro. There is a short generic commentary and a single blank and white photograph of the Futuro.

My Old Kentucky Road Trip - Pages 146-147

  • Authors: Cameron M. Ludwick & Blair Thomas Hess
  • Paperback: 128 Pages
  • Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (March 30, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1626198160
  • ISBN-13: 978-1626198166
Nightwatch - Painting with Light | Purchased 061914

The "coffee table" book Nightwatch - Painting with Light features photography by Dallas based singer Noel Kerns who creates amazing art using a technique called "Painting With Light." As "coffee table" books go this is one that is well worth spending a few minutes with; some of the images are actually quite stunning.

There is one photograph (taken in April 2008) of the Royse City Futuro in the book. The photo is very similar to the one Kerns produced for the cover artwork of the 2012 Night's On Venus CD In 4 The Evening.

Nightwatch - Painting with Light Cover

Nightwatch - Painting with Light - Futuro

  • Photographer: Noel Kerns
  • Hardcover: 254 pages
  • Publisher: Carpet Bombing Culture (October 1, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1908211024
  • ISBN-13: 978-1908211026
  • Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.7 x 1.1 inches
Oh, Florida!: How America's ... | Purchased 070816

Oh, Florida How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country - CoverOh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country is another book that came up in a Google search where we were unable to see the extent of the reference to Futuro. Had we been able to we probably would not have purchased the book.

There is one single passing mention of a "flying saucer house" in the print book. In the "notes" to the book that can only be found online the two Florida Futuros (Pensacola Beach and Tampa) get a brief mention as does TheFuturoHouse.com which is cited as a source material reference.
  • Author: Craig Pittman
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 5, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1250071208
  • ISBN-13: 978-1250071200
  • Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.4 inches
Ohio Curiosities, 2nd Ed. | Purchased 080212

Ohio Curiosities Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, 2nd Edition - CoverOhio Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, 2nd Edition written by Sandra Gurvis features a two page (293-294) article on the Carlisle Double Futuros but the information is general and generic and offers no new facts or historical information on the two Futuros.

Like other books in the "Curiosities" series this book, depending on your tastes, could be of value when planning a vacation itinerary but it is of very limited value as far as Futuro House information goes.

Ohio Curiosities Page 293

Ohio Curiosities Page 294

  • Author: Sandra Gurvis
  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Globe Pequot; Second edition (August 2, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0762764082
  • ISBN-13: 978-0762764082
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
Permanent Change: Plastics in ... | Purchased 041714

In Permanent Change: Plastics in Architecture And Engineering edited by Michael Bell and Craig Buckley an interdisciplinary group of architects, historians, theorists, and engineers explore the past, the present, and the future possibilities of plastic as a building material.

The Futuro House is mentioned briefly twice in the narrative (on pages 56 and 62) and on page 65 we find two photos, one exterior shot and one interior shot. The photos are of Futuro #001 in its current, fully restored, state as displayed at the WeeGee Exhibition Center, Espoo, Finland.

Permanent Change Cover

Permanent Change Page 65

  • Editors: Michael Bell & Craig Buckley
  • Hardcover: 271 pages
  • Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press (April 15, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1616891661
  • ISBN-13: 978-1616891664
  • Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1 inches
Pikkuväen Askartelukirja | Purchased 093017

Pikkuvaen Askartelukirja CoverTranslateThe Finnish language book Pikkuväen Askartelukirja, which Google translates to Little Craft Book, was written by Raija Kojola and published in 1972 by Otava. The book is a children's craft book which includes small projects for children. Pages 92-93 depict a very "rustic" cardboard model of a Futuro House.

Pikkuvaen Askartelukirja Pages 92 & 93

  • Author: Raija Kojola
  • Hardcover: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Otava 1972
  • Language: Finnish
  • Product Dimensions: 4.75 x 0.3 x 5.2 inches
Plastics | Purchased 031014

Plastics written by Stephan Engelsmann, Valerie Spalding & Stefan Peters is described as a comprehensive introduction to the use of plastics in architecture and construction.

The book's preface references the Internationale Kunststoffhaus Ausstellung der Welt at which the Futuro House appeared; there is a photo of this event on page 13 (the photo is a cropped version of this photo). Pages 152 and 153 feature an article on the Futuro House which is accompanied by three photographs and couple of diagrams (section and floorplan).

Plastics Cover

Plastics Page 13

Plastics Pages 152-153

  • Author: Stephan Engelsmann, Valerie Spalding & Stefan Peters
  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Birkhäuser Architecture; 1 edition (October 12, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 3034603223
  • ISBN-13: 978-3034603225
  • Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 8.7 x 11 inches
Prefab Houses | Purchased 112712

PreFab Houses written by Arnt Cobbers & Oliver Jahn is what we would describe as a "coffee table book" (and a big one at that; it weighs in at 7 lbs).

The book contains a short article on the Futuro along with several photographs. Among the photos are shots of the Futuro that was displayed at the Internationale Kunststoffhaus Ausstellung der Welt that opened in 1971 outside the German town of Lüdenscheid.

We also see Casoni & Casoni's Rondo in two of the photos and Jean Maneval's Bulle Six Coques in one.

Prefab Houses Cover

Prefab Houses Page 151

Prefab Houses Pages 158-159

Prefab Houses Pages 160-161

Prefab Houses Pages 162-163

Prefab Houses Pages 164-165

  • Authors: Arnt Cobbers & Oliver Jahn
  • Editor: Peter Gossel
  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Taschen (August 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 3836507536
  • ISBN-13: 978-3836507530
  • Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 1.8 x 13.1 inches
Rötter och arv: tolv Alandska hem | Purchased 092413

Update 022518

We now have a transaltion of the Futuro related pages and text in this book; many thanks to Patrik Westergård who sent us this translation. The translation ultimately did not provide any new information; rather it confirmed what we already knew about this Futuro and added some "color" and family history relating to the Futuro.

Original Information 092413

TranslateHere we go again buying books we cannot read; this time the book is in Swedish. Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem is a book by Britt-Marie Trensmar that features a series of chapters on homes and their interiors around the Aland Islands.

Pages of 121 through 129 of the book feature the Aland Islands Futuro. Obviously we cannot read the text (the list of things to get translated just keeps getting longer) but the photographs tell us one thing for certain; this Futuro is really excellent condition. We are sure it has must have suffered wear and tear over the years but the interior looks like it was manufactured yesterday.

We have never found a copy of this book on Amazon or for that matter E-Bay. We purchased this copy from Adlibris and then had to find someone to take delivery and forward it to us here in the USA since Adlibris will not ship outside of Scandinavia.

Rotter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Cover

Rotter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Page 121

Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Pages 122 & 123

Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Pages 124 & 125

Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Pages 126 & 127

Rötter och arv: tolv Åländska hem - Pages 128 & 129

  • Author: Britt-Marie Trensmar
  • Hardcover: 198 pages
  • Publisher: Söderström (October 2009)
  • Language: Finnish
  • ISBN-10: 9515226619
  • ISBN-13: 978-9515226617
  • Product Dimensions: 9.0 x 0.75 x 8.9 inches
Plastiques Et Architecture | Purchased 122319

TranslatePlastiques Et Architecture is subtitled "Numéro Hors Série De La Revue - Plastiques Bâtiment" (or "Special Issue Of The Journal - Building Plastics") which likely explains why, despite it being a hardcover "book", we can find no record of it being assigned an ISBN number.

It was written/edited by Jean Audouin and published in 1969. Pages 89 through 163 carry a lengthy article titled "Plastiques Et Applications Dans Le Bâtiment Autour D'une Table Ronde" (or "Plastics And Applications In The Building Around A Round Table) which appears to document a (presumably architecture related) discussion involving around 15 individuals.

Given the length of the article and the fact it is in French we have not been able to determine to what extent Futuro is discussed but we do find a photograph of Futuro #002 as it appeared on the upper deck of the Finnpartner at the 1968 Finnfocus Export Fair in London, UK.

Plastiques Et Architecture Cover

Plastiques Et Architecture Page 99

  • Author: Jean Audouin
  • Hardcover: 178 pages
  • Publisher: GM Perrin, 61, av. Ledru-Rollin (1969)
  • Language: French
  • ISBN-10: Unknown
  • ISBN-13: Unknown
  • Product Dimensions: 12.0 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches
Modern architecture of France | Purchased 022322

TranslateThe Russian book Modern architecture of France was published in 1981 and on page 89 it included a photo showing the Saint-Ouen Futuro during its days outside the Center of New Industries and Technologies or CNIT in La Défense, Paris, France.

Given the language we have absolutely no idea whether the Futuro is actually mentioned in the text or is purely incidental in a photo there to illustrate something other than the Futuro.

Modern architecture of France - Cover

Modern architecture of France - Page 89

Modern architecture of France - Page 89 Photo Detail

  • Authors: N. K. Soloviev, V. S. Turchin & V. M. Firsanov
  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Stroyizdat (1981)
  • Language: Russian
  • Product Dimensions: 8.75 x 7 x 0.75 inches
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