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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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. The collection currently (as of the date of the latest addition/update to this page) comprises 551 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  • Out Of Date Item Descriptions: Item descriptions were accurate at the time collection items were acquired but may have become outdated since.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

Magazines E-L

Listed below are magazines (titles E-L) related to Futuro included in this collection.

Latest Update(s)/Addition(s) ***
  1. Eigen Huis & Interieur | June 2011 Issue | Dutch | Purchased 021414
  2. Elegant | #43 | December 2017 Issue | Purchased 020718
  3. EMMA | Summer 2012 Issue | Purchased 122312
  4. Film Comment | #41/3 | May/June 2005 Issue | Purchased 101015
  5. Florida Travel & Life | Volume 5 Issue 2 | February 2009 | Purchased 100717
  6. Form Function Finland | #92 | 4/2003 Issue | Purchased 060714
  7. *** Framework: The Finnish Art Review | Issue 9 | June 2008 | Purchased 070622
  8. Glory Days | #10 | The Home Issue | Purchased 070115
  9. Golden Vintage | #6 | August 2014 Issue | Finnish | Purchased 081018
  10. Harper's Bazaar Spain | December 2017 | Purchased 120817
  11. Helsingin Sanomat | Monthly Supplement November 2002 | Finnish | Received 052221
  12. Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | December 23 1970 Issue | German | Purchased 112512
  13. Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | September 29 1971 Issue | German | Purchased 112512
  14. Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | October 11 1972 Issue | German | Purchased 100715
  15. House & Garden | September 1969 Issue | Purchased 092912
  16. Ilta Sanomat Lifestyle | 050713 Issue | Received 052221
  17. Interior Design | February 2003 Issue | Purchased 092713
  18. Kauniit Kodit | Issue 5 2012 | Finnish | Purchased 040314
  19. L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui | #148 | February/March 1970 Issue | French | Purchased 092713
  20. L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui | #148 | February/March 1970 Issue | Russian | Purchased 080415
  21. La Construction Moderne | Jan/Feb 1974 Issue | French | Purchased 030419
  22. La Jaune Et La Rouge | #625 | May 2007 Issue | French | Purchased 100715
  23. Live: Music For Your Eyes | Winter 2013 Issue | Received 120713

Eigen Huis & Interieur - June 2011 | Purchased 021414

TranslateThe June 2011 issue of the Dutch magazine Eigen Huis And Interieur features an article on the Futuro House on page 40. While the text is Dutch there is mention of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen which acquired and restored Futuro #000 and then in 2011 first displayed the restored unit to the public. Given that this is a Dutch magazine and a 2011 issue it is reasonable to assume that the article relates to the museum and its Futuro exhibition.

That said the article includes a photograph of a Futuro but that photograph is of the Dombai Futuro not Futuro #000.

Eigen Huis & Interieur Cover

Eigen Huis & Interieur Page 40

EMMA - Summer 2012 | Purchased 122312

EMMA Summer 2012 CoverEMMA is a magazine published by the Espoo Museum Of Modern Art and the summer 2012 issue contains an article on the Futuro on pages 14 and 15.

The article recounts the emergence of the Futuro into the world of contemporary art in the 1990's; a movement largely initiated by the use of Futuro #000, the original prototype, as a part of "The Eagle Has Landed" exhibit at the Radar Exhibition in Kotka, Finland during the summer of 1990.

EMMA Summer 2012 Pages 14-15

Florida Travel & Life - February 2009 | Purchased 100717

Florida Travel & Life magazine was published by the Bonnier Corporation; as far as we can tell they no longer publish a print magazine though they continue to publish content online.

The February 2009 issue of the publication included a short write up on the Pensacola Beach Futuro along with a nice photo.

Florida Travel & Life February 2009 - Cover

Florida Travel & Life February 2009 -  Page 96

Glory Days - #10/The Home Issue | Purchased 070115

Glory Days - The Home Issue - Summer 2015 CoverIssue #10, "The Home Issue", of New Zealand vintage lifestyle magazine Glory Days features a nice six page Futuro article.

The article focuses on the history of the Futuro, primarily as it relates to New Zealand, and on Nick McQuoid and the pair of Futuros he is in process of restoring in Rangiora, on New Zealand's South Island.

Glory Days - The Home Issue - Summer 2015 Pages 56-57

Glory Days - The Home Issue - Summer 2015 Pages 58-59

Glory Days - The Home Issue - Summer 2015 Pages 60-61

Hobby: Das Magazin der ... - 122370 | Purchased 112512

Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | 122370 | CoverTranslateWe recently obtained a copy of this issue of Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik along with the 092971 issue from E-Bay Germany with the assistance of Achim Breiling who kindly acted a "middleman" and purchased the magazines on our behalf and then shipped them to the US. Thanks Achim.

We do not understand the article of course, we will get a translation at some point, but Achim tells us that the article is a general article about prefabricated houses, how to buy one and how to prepare the land to place one on. There are two photos of the Futuro; one is a photo of the Hirvensalmi Futuro (now in Espoo) and the other is a generic interior shot.

The article also mentions that the Futuro could be purchased for 58750 DM from Neckermann (German | English translation by Google here), one of Germany's oldest Mail Order companies.

The Futuro House also featured in an article in the 101172 issue of Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik.

Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | 122370 | Pages 80-81

Hobby: Das Magazin der ... - 101172 | Purchased 100715

Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | 101172 | CoverUpdate 101015

Despite the fact we already had a copy of the article from this magazine the "collector bug" prompted us to want to add a copy of the actual magazine to our collection and we have now been able to do that.

Update 100415

Thanks to some information from Achim Breiling (thanks Achim) the magazine from which this article comes has been identified; it is from the 101172 issue of the German magazine Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik. The Futuro featured in articles in two other issues of Hobby already in this collection; the 122370 issue and the 092971 issue.

Original Information 092015

We know next to nothing about this item we picked up recently. It is a multi-page article from an unknown German publication titled "Wohnen in Kunststoff: vorerst noch nicht" or "Living in plastic: for the time being not yet". The article references Futuro and includes a small photo and floor plan.

If anyone is able to identify the publication please let us know.

Unknown German Publication - Unknown Date - Pages 49-50

Unknown German Publication - Unknown Date - Pages 51-52

Unknown German Publication - Unknown Date - Pages 53-54

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui - Feb 1970 | Purchased 092713

TranslateSince its founding by André Bloc in the 1930's L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, France's oldest and best known Architecture magazine, has grown to become a highly respected magazine known around the world.

The February/March 1970 issue of the magazine, #148, includes a short one page article on the Futuro House. The article can be found on page 95 and includes text, a couple of photos and plans.

There is also a Russian version of this magazine (copy here). There are differences between the two versions, for example the covers are different and the Futuro article is on page 93 not page 95 in the Russian version but other than the obvious different language the actual Futuro article appears to be the same in both magazines.

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui Cover

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui Page 95

La Construction Moderne - Jan 1974 | Purchased 030419

TranslateThe Jan/Feb 1974 issue of French publication La Construction Moderne included a multi page article on La Défense in Paris, France. The article is in French so we cannot read it but based on a quick scan it does not appear that the Futuro that was located there at the time is mentioned in the text.

Page 23 however does include a photo that shows the Futuro that was located outside the CNIT (Centre Des Nouvelles Industries Et Technologies) at the time; that Futuro is now located in Saint-Ouen.

la Construction Moderne - Jan/Feb 1974 Issue - Cover

la Construction Moderne - Jan/Feb 1974 Issue -  Page 23

La Jaune Et La Rouge - #625/May 2007 | Purchased 100715

TranslateLa Jaune Et La Rouge (The Yellow And The Red: representing the school colors) is a monthly magazine published in Paris, France by L'Association des anciens élèves et diplômés de l'École polytechnique (The Association of former students and graduates of the School Polytechnique).

Issue #625, published May 2007, includes (pages 12 through 15) an article titled "La Défense: La vitalité d'un lieu chargé d'histoires" (La Défense: The vitality of a place full of stories). The article includes a 1977 aerial photograph of the La Défense area of Paris in which the Saint-Ouen Futuro can be seen in front of the CNIT (Centre Des Nouvelles Industries Et Technologies). The article does not appear to reference the Futuro in the text (though it is a long article in French and we could have missed something).

The photo covers quite a large area and the Futuro is very small and blurred but it can be made out in the image below to the right of the CNIT a little below and to the left of the center of the photo.

La Jaune Et La Rouge Issue #625 May 2007 - Cover

La Jaune Et La Rouge Issue #625 May 2007 - Page 14

La Jaune Et La Rouge Issue #625 May 2007 - Photo Detail

Ilta Sanomat Lifestyle - 050713 | Received 052221

Ilta Sanomat Lifestyle - 050713 - CoverTranslateIlta-Sanomat is, according to Wikipedia, one of Finland's two prominent tabloid size evening newspapers and the second largest paper in the country.

In its 050713 Lifestyle supplement there is a multiple page article on the Futuro. The article includes some great photographs of Futuro #000 during its time in Turenki (now of course in the collection of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen).

We had thought maybe this article might have some interesting information so we took the time to put it through Google Translate only to find it was really rather general in nature and contained nothing new.

Ilta Sanomat Lifestyle - 050713 - Pages 28 & 29

Ilta Sanomat Lifestyle - 050713 - Pages 30 & 31

Elegant - #43/December 2017 | Purchased 020718

Launched in May 2013 by Francisco Valencia, Elegant Magazine describes itself as:

"... a Fashion, Beauty, Editorial and Conceptual art magazine that is published monthly in digital format as well as Print.

Issue #43 (December 2017) included a fashion shoot by Cameron Spooner that used the Royse City Futuro as a "back drop" for some of the shots.

Elegant - December 2017 Issue Cover

Elegant - December 2017 Issue Page 26

Film Comment - Vol 41-3/May 2005 | Purchased 101012

Film Comment 41/3 - May/June 2005 - CoverPublished by the Film Society At Lincoln Center and founded in 1962, Film Comment magazine features reviews and analysis of mainstream, art-house, and avant-garde filmmaking from around the world.

The May/June 2005 issue (Vol 41/3) features a review of some of Finnish director Mika Taanila's work. The article is titled "Picture-Perfect Future" and sub-titled "The strange time-warp explorations of Finnish filmmaker Mika Taanila". Among the works reviewed is the iconic documentary Futuro: A New Stance for Tomorrow. The article is accompanied by a photo of the Dombai Futuro.

Film Comment 41/3 - May/June 2005 - Pages 12-13

Form Function Finland - #92/4/2003 | Purchased 060714

First published in 1980 Form Function Finland is an English language publication that features Finnish design, architecture and visual arts. The magazine is published by Design Forum Finland which is maintained by the Finnish Society for Crafts and Design.

Issue 92 (4/2003) of the publication includes an article on pages 55-57 which reviews several design and architecture books. Among the books reviewed is Futuro: Tomorrow's House from Yesterday edited by Marko Home & Mika Taanila. The article includes some narrative related to the Futuro and a brief review of the Home & Taanila book. It is accompanied by a photograph of the front cover of the book.

Form Function Finland Cover

Form Function Finland Page 56

Golden Vintage - #6/August 2014 | Purchased 081018

Golden Vintage - August 2014 Issue - CoverTranslateThe August 2014 issue (#6) of Finnish publication Golden Vintage includes a four page article about Matti Suuronen.

The article is accompanied by several photos of Suuronen architecture. One of the photos is of what appears to be a Polykem brochure for the Casa Finlandia series of buildings and this includes a photo of Futuro #001 back in its days in Hirvensalmi.

Golden Vintage - August 2014 Issue - Pages 60 & 61

Golden Vintage - August 2014 Issue - Pages 62 & 63

Harper's Bazaar Spain - December 2017 | Purchased 120817

American women's fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar has been published since 1967 and is currently published in 32 countries. The December 2017 Spanish issue of the magazine carried a very small Futuro article consisting of a single paragraph on page 114 that was accompanied by a single photo.

Harper's Bazaar Spain - December 2017 - Cover

Harper's Bazaar Spain - December 2017 - Page 114

Hobby: Das Magazin der ... - 092971 | Purchased 112512

TranslateAs with the 122370 Issue of Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik Achim Breiling has assisted us in understanding what the Futuro related article is all about. Once again, thanks Achim.

This issue contains an article on the 1971 Internationale Kunststoffhaus Ausstellung in Lüdenscheid, Germany. The exhibition featured the Futuro along with other plastic houses of the time. The article includes one photograph of the Futuro.

We received a copy of the book Homes: Today & Tomorrow the same day as we received the two Hobby magazines and by a strange coincidence that book happens to contain a photograph from that very same exhibition.

The Futuro House also featured in an article in the 101172 issue.

Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | 092971 | Cover

Hobby: Das Magazin der Technik | 092971 | Page 70

House & Garden - September 1969 | Purchased 092912

In an article titled "What's New For Living" the September 1969 issue of House & Garden features a very short description of the Futuro that includes one of our all time favorite Futuro quotes:

"Perched high on steel tubing with a drop-down, airplane-like stair door that locks from either inside or out, Futuro is an unbreachable fortress."

If someone asked us to describe a Futuro in one word "Fortress" would not be it though we imagine if you lived in a Futuro once you locked yourself inside it was probably pretty secure.

House Garden Cover

House Garden Page 54

Interior Design - February 2003 | Purchased 092713

Page 215 of the February 2003 issue of Interior Design Magazine features a short article along with a single photograph of the Pensacola Beach Futuro. The article never mentions the name "Futuro House"; rather it describes the structure as the "UFO House" though it does correctly attribute the design to Matti Suuronen. The article also suggests only 20 were manufactured which we know to be very understated.

Interio Design Cover

Interior Design Page 215

Kauniit Kodit - #5/2012 | Purchased 040314

TranslateIssue 5 2012 of the Finnish design magazine Kauniit Kodit or "Beautiful Homes" includes a very short piece on the Futuro House on page 23. The article references Futuro #001 originally located in Hirvensalmi, Finland and now on display at the WeeGee Exhibition Center, Espoo, Finland.

The article is accompanied by a single exterior photograph of the Futuro as it appeared at its original location.

The photograph is actually a commonly used one that has appeared in multiple books and magazines; some examples can be found here, here, here, here and here.

Kauniit Kodit Issue 5 2012 Cover

Kauniit Kodit Issue 5 2012 Page 23

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui - Feb 1970 | Purchased 080415

TranslateSince its founding by André Bloc in the 1930's L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, France's oldest and best known Architecture magazine, has grown to become a highly respected magazine known around the world.

The February/March 1970 issue of the magazine, #148, includes a short one page article on the Futuro House. In this rare Russian version of the original French publication (copy of the original French version here) the Futuro article can be found on page 93; it includes text, a couple of photos and plans.

There are differences between the two versions of the magazine, for example the covers are different and the Futuro article is on page 95 not page 93 in the original French version but other than the obvious different language the actual Futuro article appears to be the same in both magazines.

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui Cover [Russian Version]

L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui Page 93 [Russian Version]

Live: Music For Your Eyes - Winter 2013 | Received 120713

Cincinnati radio station ClassX recently threw a party to celebrate the release of the Winter 2013 issue of their publication Live Magazine along with the celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Covington Futuro.

The party was hosted by Covington Futuro owner Rob Detzel at the Futuro. A digital copy of the magazine, which includes an article on the Futuro starting on page 14, is available online here (it can also be downloaded as a pdf file) and there are photographs and a video in a couple of posts on the ClassX Radio Facebook Page here and here.

The article includes some great historical details along with several photos. ClassX was kind enough to send us a copy of the magazine.

Live By ClassX Radio Winter 2013 Cover

Live By ClassX Radio Winter 2013 Page 18

Live By ClassX Radio Winter 2013 Pages 14-15

Live By ClassX Radio Winter 2013 Pages 16-17

Helsingin Sanomat - 11/02 Supplement | Received 052221

TranslateHelsingin Sanomat, published in Helsinki, is the largest Finnish daily newspaper.

This November 2002 monthly supplement carried a two page article on Futuro #001; at the time located in Hirvensalmi and now of course located at the WeeGee Exhibition Center.

As yet we have no translation though it appears like the article probably includes an interview with the owner Matti Kuusla. The article also includes two great photos; one exterior and one interior.

Helsingin Sanomat - November 2002 Supplement Cover

Helsingin Sanomat - November 2002 Supplement Page 102

Helsingin Sanomat - November 2002 Supplement Page 100/101

Framework: The Finnish Art Review | Purchased 070622

The Finnish Art Review Issue 9 June 2008 CoverFirst published in 2004 the bi-annual publication Framework: The Finnish Art Review is described as being "a discursive forum that opens a space for a variety of visual material, as well as extensive articles, analyses and international commentaries on contemporary art and culture."

Issue 9 of the publication, published June 2008, carried art work on the cover that featured the Futuro House and inside it carried a multi-page article on Mika Taanila, the Finnish film director, who, along with Marko Home, gave us the iconic book Futuro: Tomorrow's House from Yesterday and the documentary film Futuro: A New Stance for Tomorrow. Pages 118 and 119 feature images from the documentary.

The Finnish Art Review Issue 9 June 2008 Pages 118-119

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