> Quite simply, there are only a small number still in existence
I suspect it's not just because few were made, and not just because of the questionable materials used.
I know taste is subjective and the design is iconic, but these really are devastatingly ugly in my opinion. It might just be that some of the previous owners were okay with letting them fade into history.
I do have a sense of humor though, and would love to see one with a Fiat Multipla parked out front.
I think it’s actually the design and in particular usability.
They seem inaccessible and impractical. Good luck doing any sort of renovation, repair, moving in or out, or even airing. Note the single hatch entrance and completely sealed windows.
I feel the stilts are somewhat ugly, the roundness of the house is enticing, although roundness is bad for storage and furnishing things (as everything is built for square things) I have experienced that round rooms are very pleasant to be in.
Whenever someone posts a link about these, I get an irresistible urge to post a link to an article with pictures of one being moved by helicopter, so here goes: https://digitaltmuseum.se/0211812518755/flygvapenmuseums-fut... (in Swedish, but Google Translate usually handles that fairly well).
Ahh, funnily enough while flipping through channels on my TV I randomly saw another one of these featured on some TV show about renovating Airbnbs. The one in this article is much more tastefully decorated
Whether you find them beautiful or ugly, I think it’s kind of sad you probably couldn’t build these today as dwellings due to building codes. (Or maybe you could?)
Small, even tiny, homes are not a new thing. The house I grew up in was not much larger than the Futuro. A local museum has the house of a local artist inside, and it is about the size of a tiny home. Of course, you also have people living in mobile homes and trailers. I doubt that building codes have much to say on small homes, though zoning would.
That said, the design and materials would have an impact for more innovative designs.
My favourite tiny home is a sailboat. My second favourite tiny home is a solar powered boat (a pretty interesting one recently came to an unfortunate end, however), and my third tiny home is a deep, underground bunker.
Dunno why, I do love all the land-surface homes too, but I dream of having any one of the above to live out my latter days ..
Ah. I didn't put enough significance on the 'bunker' part. How about finding a property on top of a cavern? I've come across at least one. Or a missile silo..
Bus could be electric, or CNG, or E85, hydrogen, or B100 powered. I once met a guy at a remote intersection in Nevada who was driving a 40ft skoolie back from deep in Mexico to the PNW on collected WVO.. part of an annual migration.
I've been thinking a solar-powered catamaran or trimaran would be a nice project. Could generate and burn hydrogen for fresh water. Or batteries for ballast in a monohull. Extra panels can be vertical.. who is going to invent sails with integrated solar cells?.. Oh, I see that exists now. Very exciting!
They guy behind the Helios 11 solar-powered boat (which was recently wrecked alas) is exactly the kind of scrappy know-best upstart rebel that the solar powered catamaran world needs .. with Helios 11 on the rocks, he's returned to Sweden to build his solar-powered catamaran. As much as his methods are cheap and nasty, I think he has a lot of the momentum needed to actually pull this off, having sailed Helios 11 from Finland to Spain ..
With a few tweaks here and there, once he gets the cat design fleshed out, I'm quite sure I'll follow his lead and do my own version in the next year or so .. its such a great idea, and my section of the worlds oceans (Croatian coastline) seems like the perfect place to field such a vessel ..
I was thinking, we now know more about effects of various chemicals on the body. And probably fire regulation has been updated too. A lot of this material was quite new then and of course there was a lot of experimentation, and some things that ended up as "dead ends". What would a modern Futuro look like?
In the birth country of Futuro, the craze has been the opposite for at least a decade: all natural and old fashioned materials. Log houses, maybe even stone foundation, natural circulation, clay/chalk wall finishing, tar paper, shredded newspaper + flax insulation. No glue or plastics anywhere. Some of this is first hand experience.
I think one could build a modern and retro futuro-like thing with enough cleverness. Maybe from some wicker style material? The rain proofing is a problem.
The IBC isn't too bad. The problem is that damn near every municipality rich enough to deviate from the cheapest possible construction also has what are called "stretch codes" that will kick your house manufacturing operation square in the dick (that's the point, can't be allowing peasants to just buy pre-engineered modular homes and garage kits) and you can't possibly comply with all of them from your factory because they're often mutually exclusive.
And if by some miracle you solve all that it's still gonna be a massive PITA to transport because overweight and also over height.
I think you might have to get creative with your local building code for garden sheds / modular homes / trailers etc. Or find some way to designate it as a caravan.
Building codes? What building codes? Where we’re going we don’t need no stinkin’ building codes .. because we seceded from the host nation and have created our own micro-state/principality/sovereignty deal, and if we wanna live in a bubble, then blow away, Oida!!!
It's kinda neat to look at; but I wouldn't actually want to live in a weird, sub-800-square-foot custom house from half a century ago that is probably difficult and expensive to keep comfortable, repair, store furniture in, etc.
Chattanooga ain't exactly southern California, in terms of real estate values. Also, that one is kinda ugly, the one in TFA is lovely. The curves, the windows, the terrain, the interior, everything is gorgeous.
I wonder how much work it is to keep the outside that clean in the middle of a forest. But the color is great and it does look romantic. Extra UFO points if it can take off and just fly somewhere else.
From that site: the California State Historical Landmark plaque reads:
DONALDSON FUTURO
THE DONALDSON FUTURO IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EXAMPLE OF AMERICA'S COLLECTIVE CONFIDENCE AS A LEADER IN SPACE FLIGHT, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. DESIGNED BY FINNISH ARCHITECT MATTI SUURONEN, THIS SPACE-AGE HOME WAS THE FIRST FUTURO TO ARRIVE IN CALIFORNIA, IN 1969, AND THE ONLY FUTURO IN CALIFORNIA TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT FOR RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY. ITS MODERN FUTURISTIC SPACE-AGE DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND WORKMANSHIP RETAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY FROM ITS PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE. THE PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS THE DONALDSON FUTURO IN RECOGNITION OF OWNERS WAYNE AND LAURIE DONALDSON'S EXTENSIVE RESTORATION EFFORT THAT SUCCESSFULLY PRESERVED THIS FRAGILE RESOURCE AND RAISED THE PROFILE OF EARLY MID-CENTURY PLASTIC BUILDINGS.
CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 1062 PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH ARCHITECT MILFORD WAYNE DONALDSON FAIA; THE IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY; AND THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF E CLAMPUS VITUS, JOHN P. SQUIBOB CHAPTER AND
THE BILLY HOLCOMB CHAPTER, APRIL 16, 2022.
57 comments
[ 0.19 ms ] story [ 13.9 ms ] threadI suspect it's not just because few were made, and not just because of the questionable materials used.
I know taste is subjective and the design is iconic, but these really are devastatingly ugly in my opinion. It might just be that some of the previous owners were okay with letting them fade into history.
I do have a sense of humor though, and would love to see one with a Fiat Multipla parked out front.
It's just that it's one thing to like how something looks and another is to want to have it.
They seem inaccessible and impractical. Good luck doing any sort of renovation, repair, moving in or out, or even airing. Note the single hatch entrance and completely sealed windows.
Pretty fun place too
Woof
That said, the design and materials would have an impact for more innovative designs.
https://www.dwell.com/tiny-homes
https://www.houseplans.com/collection/s-tiny-modern-plans
https://metropolismag.com/viewpoints/nine-taliesin-west-most...
https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/the-last-student-sh...
https://www.tsoa.edu/shelter-thesis
Dunno why, I do love all the land-surface homes too, but I dream of having any one of the above to live out my latter days ..
How about an earthship and a converted school bus to tow a small-ish boat around?
Converted school bus? Well, the issue is, I don't wanna pay for gas, man, mmkay... ;)
Bus could be electric, or CNG, or E85, hydrogen, or B100 powered. I once met a guy at a remote intersection in Nevada who was driving a 40ft skoolie back from deep in Mexico to the PNW on collected WVO.. part of an annual migration.
https://www.hallberg-rassy.com/news/news/solar-panel-sails-2...
And for the unacquainted:
Lin and Larry Pardey, most famously, made a long life together sailing the world, first, in their homemade, engine-less 24ft cutter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_and_Larry_Pardey
Cruising in Seraffyn
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1929214049
https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/helios-11-solar-explore...
With a few tweaks here and there, once he gets the cat design fleshed out, I'm quite sure I'll follow his lead and do my own version in the next year or so .. its such a great idea, and my section of the worlds oceans (Croatian coastline) seems like the perfect place to field such a vessel ..
In the birth country of Futuro, the craze has been the opposite for at least a decade: all natural and old fashioned materials. Log houses, maybe even stone foundation, natural circulation, clay/chalk wall finishing, tar paper, shredded newspaper + flax insulation. No glue or plastics anywhere. Some of this is first hand experience.
I think one could build a modern and retro futuro-like thing with enough cleverness. Maybe from some wicker style material? The rain proofing is a problem.
And if by some miracle you solve all that it's still gonna be a massive PITA to transport because overweight and also over height.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kugelmugel
https://www.canberra.edu.au/uc-alumni-canvas/canvas-articles...
https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/venues/henry-ford-museum-...
https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/89082/
Finnish? They've only just started!
You can visit inside House number 1 at the WeeGee exhibition centre near Helsinki (select dates)
https://www.espoo.fi/en/futuro-house
> You've seen them?
> Yes sir.
> You realize there's a government directive stating that there is no such thing as a flying saucer?
> Yes sir.
> Do you stand by your statement that you've seen flying saucers?
> Well, uh yes sir.
Plan 9, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Plan_9_f...
The house in TFA costs more money and seems smaller. Maybe not a good value for the money?
[1] https://maps.app.goo.gl/yYaUYM3bdc7Ec6Lj6?g_st=ic
[2] https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1408-Palisades-Rd-Signal-...
And the islands keep getting smaller and more expensive as the ocean expands.
If the lifestyle attracts you, go for it. It’s not for me.
This is boomer-core all over from the house to the price.
It's an object from another time.
DONALDSON FUTURO
THE DONALDSON FUTURO IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EXAMPLE OF AMERICA'S COLLECTIVE CONFIDENCE AS A LEADER IN SPACE FLIGHT, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. DESIGNED BY FINNISH ARCHITECT MATTI SUURONEN, THIS SPACE-AGE HOME WAS THE FIRST FUTURO TO ARRIVE IN CALIFORNIA, IN 1969, AND THE ONLY FUTURO IN CALIFORNIA TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT FOR RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY. ITS MODERN FUTURISTIC SPACE-AGE DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND WORKMANSHIP RETAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF INTEGRITY FROM ITS PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE. THE PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED AS THE DONALDSON FUTURO IN RECOGNITION OF OWNERS WAYNE AND LAURIE DONALDSON'S EXTENSIVE RESTORATION EFFORT THAT SUCCESSFULLY PRESERVED THIS FRAGILE RESOURCE AND RAISED THE PROFILE OF EARLY MID-CENTURY PLASTIC BUILDINGS.
CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 1062 PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH ARCHITECT MILFORD WAYNE DONALDSON FAIA; THE IDYLLWILD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY; AND THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF E CLAMPUS VITUS, JOHN P. SQUIBOB CHAPTER AND THE BILLY HOLCOMB CHAPTER, APRIL 16, 2022.