Only 20 of these "ski cabins" or vacation homes were built. Each could accommodate 8 people in modern comfort. One is beached on Hatteras Island, North Carolina; years ago it was operating as an ice cream stand, now it is only occasionally open; the owners sell retro "space age" items.

Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed this UFO shaped dwelling in 1968, initially for use as a ski-cabin or holiday home. The idea behind the design reflects the optimism of the 1960s. At the time, people believed technology could solve all problems for the human race. The ideal was of a new era, a space-age, where everybody would have more leisure time to spend on holidays away from home.

The Futuro house was completely furnished and could accommodate 8 people. It was constructed entirely out of reinforced plastic, a new, light and inexpensive material back then. The plan was to mass-produce it, so it would be cheap enough to house all people around the earth. Because it was so lightweight, it was easily transportable by helicopter. Mobile living was the new possibility for the future! People could take their moveable home with them, to wherever they went, and live like modern nomads.

Unfortunately the 1973 oil crisis spoiled all these plans. Prices of plastic raised production costs too high to be profitable as its aesthetics were not above those of a conventional house. Thus, only 20 were ever built.

http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/future_has_passed.htm

3/18/2008 12:13:31 AM

When I was five, my dad convinced me it was a real ufo, and that that little area w/ the fudge store made up the smalled town in the US. I couldn't understand why my mom was mad at him for telling me...

He was cruel.

3/18/2008 12:47:54 AM

Quote :

"Each could accommodate 8 people in modern comfort."

I bet it has orange shag carpet.

3/18/2008 12:49:12 AM

i too have seen and or fantasized about ufo's.

3/18/2008 1:13:37 AM