Optimistic curves and sleek lines dominated design in the 1960s, driven by the space race and economic prosperity. Googie buildings swept the nation, John Lautner debuted his gravity-defying Chemosphere, and Finnish architect Matti Suuronen gave the world the Futuro house: a pre-fab, plastic-shelled holiday home resembling a flying saucer. Initially conceived as a portable ski lodge due to its ability to heat up quickly, the Futuro house was unveiled in 1968. Manufacturers produced 100 of them, but in 1973 an oil embargo caused the price of petroleum to soar, ceasing production. Only 68 remain today.
Futuro homes found other purposes, from a Navy recruiting office to a hamburger stand. Over the years, many were abandoned, and in lucky cases they were restored by architects or acquired by museums and modern art galleries for public enjoyment. Here are some of AD’s favorites.
Photo: Stacy Suaya
Idyllwild, California
The Donaldson Futuro is named after its owner and preservation architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, and lies within the piney San Jacinto Mountains.
Photo: Chris Wakefield
Marston Park, UK
Discovered in a dilapidated state and restored by London-based artist Chris Barnes, this Futuro nests inside a Somerset glade and rents as a holiday home.
Photo: Nikolai Jelstrup
Nevlunghamn, Norway
Per Tannum, a businessman working in Norwegian design, bought this space-age structure in 1971. Since then, his family has used it as a summer house.
Photo: Getty Images
Munich, Germany
This Futuro lives on the lawn of Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne, one of Europe’s foremost galleries for modern and contemporary art.
Photo: Courtesy of University of Canberra
Canberra, Australia
This Futuro spent 10 years as part of the Canberra Planetarium and Observatory. Today it functions as a study, meeting, or tutorial space within the UC Canberra campus.
Photo: Courtesy of Naiko Retreat
Deep Creek, Australia
Guests of the five-star Naiko Retreat enter its Futuro home for spa treatments. Its underside is fitted with multicolored “landing” lights, preset to come on in the evening to surprise guests.
Photo: Lotte Stekelenburg
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen acquired its Futuro in 2007, with restoration work helmed by modern art conservator Lydia Beerkens and Polyproducts in Werkendam.
Photo: Nick McQuoid
Canterbury, New Zealand
Now a vacation rental, this restored spaceship is outfitted with genuine rare furniture from Verner Panton and Luigi Colani. A stay includes “pickup via Tesla” and the use of an on-site infrared sauna.
Photo: Getty Images
Dombai, Russia
A gift from Finnish President Urho Kekkonen, who visited the area in 1969, this Futuro was delivered to Mount Moussa-Achitara the same year and is currently used as a hotel.
Photo: Stacy Suaya
Photo: Stacy Suaya
Photo: Chris Wakefield
Photo: Chris Wakefield
Photo: Nikolai Jelstrup
Photo: Nikolai Jelstrup
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Courtesy of University of Canberra
Photo: Courtesy of University of Canberra
Photo: Courtesy of Naiko Retreat 
Photo: Courtesy of Naiko Retreat 
Photo: Lotte Stekelenburg
Photo: Nick McQuoid
Photo: Nick McQuoid
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images