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
- Location | 28 Sparks Rd, Henderson WA 6166, Australia
- Lat/Long | 32°09'13.2"S 115°46'31.6"E
- Previous Locations | 36 Taunton Dr, Cheltenham VIC 3192, Australia & 985 Erskine Falls Rd, Lorne VIC 3232, Australia & 1280 Ferntree Gully Rd, Scoresby VIC 3179, Australia
- Previous Lat/Longs | 37°58'16.78"S 145°5'4.77"E & 38°31'7.99"S 143°53'14.45"E & 37°54'24.75"S 145°13'30.96"E
- Image By Mara Szoeke | 101315 (Previous Location)
- Google Maps | 111318
- Latest Confirmation | 071722
We have a color; a cool light blue as can be seen in this photo from an IG story posted by owner @futuro_perth 070322 (as always thanks for documenting and sharing your "Futuro journey" - we really appreciate it).
And then in another IG story posted 071722 we see these two shots showing the upper half of the Futuro partially assembled into two sections. She seems to be coming along well and we cannot wait to see how she turns out in the future when the work is complete.
It is always great to see updates on Futuro projects and here we have a couple of photos of the progress with this one from @futuro_perth (thanks for sharing your progress).
The first photo is accompanied by this comment:
"Progress has been made on the flooring and surface repair. Next will be deciding on the colour."
We await the choice of color with baited breath!
And then with the second of the two photos we learn that:
"The entrance is starting to take shape with the steel frame and retractable staircase installed - some of the hallmarks of the Futuro House."
The first photo is accompanied by this comment:
"Progress has been made on the flooring and surface repair. Next will be deciding on the colour."
We await the choice of color with baited breath!
And then with the second of the two photos we learn that:
"The entrance is starting to take shape with the steel frame and retractable staircase installed - some of the hallmarks of the Futuro House."
It seems that restoration work on this Futuro is well underway based on some recent Instagram posts by @futuro_perth.
In one recent post we learn that "America's Cup yacht designer Phil Kaiko is turning his hand to the restoration of the Futuro Perth" and in another we are told that "restoration is underway, starting with repairing the fiberglass shell and now moving to the interior".
The second of those posts was accompanied by the photo below which shows newly constructed ribs to support the floor. The original photo can be found on Instagram here.
In one recent post we learn that "America's Cup yacht designer Phil Kaiko is turning his hand to the restoration of the Futuro Perth" and in another we are told that "restoration is underway, starting with repairing the fiberglass shell and now moving to the interior".
The second of those posts was accompanied by the photo below which shows newly constructed ribs to support the floor. The original photo can be found on Instagram here.
Finally we see this photo accompanied by the comment "Admiring the handiwork of Phil Kaiko - bringing back that smooth finish after 50 years." Sure is good to see a Futuro getting so much TLC.
We received an email this week from Craig Barnes (futurohouse.co.uk), owner of the UK Futuro which included the series of photos shown below. The photos were taken by noted drummer, record producer and songwriter Jack Baker while on tour playing drums for Bonobo. They were playing at the Falls Music & Arts Festival, an annual event that runs at multiple sites; at the Lorne venue the festival ran 122813 through 010114.
Craig tells us that the Futuro
"... was used as the backstage dressing room for the headline act ..."
In this case that act was The Roots who served as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014, and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014. As a part of the supporting act Jack was unable to go inside the Futuro so the photos are exterior only but nevertheless it is a great set of photos and we thank both Jack and Craig for allowing us to display the photos here.
Jack's photos have made us even more convinced that the "Otway Futuro" and the "Lorne Futuro" are one and the same. One of the only reasons we were unsure previously was the condition of the paintwork which appeared to be far better in Mara's photo than in the photo of the "Otway Futuro".
However looking at Jack's photos (taken very recently) there is clear evidence of the deterioration of the finish and the seams between the sections which standout in the "Otway" photo are also evident in some of Jack's shots. It seems to us that Mara's photo is probably the oldest with the "Otway" photo being taken some time between Mara's and Jack's.
As a direct result of the information in Craig's email we have now been able to pinpoint the location of the Futuro using Bing Maps (985 Erskine Falls Rd, Lorne VIC 3232, Australia | 38°31'7.99"S 143°53'14.45"E). Had we used Bing Maps back when we first heard of this Futuro we would have located it then but we used Google Earth and Google Maps and despite looking several times at the exact location we could not identify the Futuro; in fact in Google Maps even having the exact co-ordinates without other evidence it would be hard to say from the satellite imagery that there was definitely a Futuro at the location. Not so with Bing Maps which clearly shows a Futuro.
None currently known.
In recent correspondence with the owner of this Futuro we learned that that this was actually the Futuro we had listed separately as being located in Cheltenham, VIC.
Clearly that meant we had the same Futuro listed twice as being "current" but we have now been able to correct that error and reclassify Cheltenham as a "previous location". Unfortunately that also meant reducing our count of remaining Futuros by one, never a great thing to have to do, but we strive for accuracy and try to correct the errors that creep into these pages from time to time as soon as we are able.
Clearly that meant we had the same Futuro listed twice as being "current" but we have now been able to correct that error and reclassify Cheltenham as a "previous location". Unfortunately that also meant reducing our count of remaining Futuros by one, never a great thing to have to do, but we strive for accuracy and try to correct the errors that creep into these pages from time to time as soon as we are able.
Per previous discussions with owner Kyle we knew there were plans to restore this unit but until recently we were unaware of any progress or if work had even started but that changed recently with a post to Instagram.
Kyle shared the photos below to his Instagram feed, @kjohnj, 082821 along with the comment "This little gem is well on the road to recovery". The original photos can be found on Instagram here.
It is certainly great to see work moving forward on another Futuro; as far as we are concerned the more Futuros that are restored the better. Kyle, thanks for sharing, we are looking forward to seeing how she ends up in due course.
Kyle shared the photos below to his Instagram feed, @kjohnj, 082821 along with the comment "This little gem is well on the road to recovery". The original photos can be found on Instagram here.
It is certainly great to see work moving forward on another Futuro; as far as we are concerned the more Futuros that are restored the better. Kyle, thanks for sharing, we are looking forward to seeing how she ends up in due course.
Phil Monger recently sent us a link to an interesting little radio snippet that was broadcast by ABC under the title "Do you have a memory of the Futuro flying saucer in Perth?" Thanks Phil!
Though the piece starts out talking about the Futuro that spent time in various locations around Perth and is now located in High Wycombe the discussion actually led to a short interview with Kyle, the owner of this Futuro.
Kyle recounts a little of the history of this unit and how he came to own it and tells us that he does plan on restoring the unit. The hope is to make it like "brand new" as best he can and the intention is, if possible, to locate it somewhere on a public space so the public can view and experience the Futuro.
The radio segment can be found online here.
Though the piece starts out talking about the Futuro that spent time in various locations around Perth and is now located in High Wycombe the discussion actually led to a short interview with Kyle, the owner of this Futuro.
Kyle recounts a little of the history of this unit and how he came to own it and tells us that he does plan on restoring the unit. The hope is to make it like "brand new" as best he can and the intention is, if possible, to locate it somewhere on a public space so the public can view and experience the Futuro.
The radio segment can be found online here.
On 060320 we added an update to the High Wycombe page based on a comment on a Reddit post titled "I miss the Futuro House that used to be on the corner of Leach and Karel."
The comment suggested that the High Wycombe unit had been relocated to 28 Sparks Rd, Henderson WA 6166 and it included satellite imagery of what appeared to be a Futuro. At the time we had our doubts about it being the High Wycombe Futuro (available satellite imagery indicated that would mean the unit had been in two places on the same day) and in fact we were not sure it was even a Futuro.
Not long afterwards Anthony Tran reached out to us and sent us the photos below which clearly show a disassembled Futuro at the location. Many thanks Anthony!
Based on the known history and in particular the known locations on specific dates of the various Futuros in Australia along with some information we think it right not to share at this time we are now certain this unit is in fact the unit previously located in Lorne which will at some point be restored and reassembled at a new location.
The comment suggested that the High Wycombe unit had been relocated to 28 Sparks Rd, Henderson WA 6166 and it included satellite imagery of what appeared to be a Futuro. At the time we had our doubts about it being the High Wycombe Futuro (available satellite imagery indicated that would mean the unit had been in two places on the same day) and in fact we were not sure it was even a Futuro.
Not long afterwards Anthony Tran reached out to us and sent us the photos below which clearly show a disassembled Futuro at the location. Many thanks Anthony!
Based on the known history and in particular the known locations on specific dates of the various Futuros in Australia along with some information we think it right not to share at this time we are now certain this unit is in fact the unit previously located in Lorne which will at some point be restored and reassembled at a new location.
As a result of an email from Martin Williams and a little research that followed it has become clear that the conclusion we reached regarding the photo of "The Otway Futuro" in the 021314 update to this page, specifically that it and this Futuro were one and the same, was in error and there were Futuros at both Lorne and Otway with the latter specifically being at the Sokil Art Eco Retreat. More information can be found in the Sokil Art Eco Retreat section on the "Lost Souls" page.
The Gumtree.com.au listing has ended and the site now reports the listing as "sold" and in a post to her Facebook Group owner Mara Szoeke indicates the Futuro's destination is Perth, Australia.
If you are interested in purchasing this Futuro you will need to get your bid in very soon. The Gumtree.com.au listing has been updated to include both a "starting price" of $20,000 and an "end date" with the highest bid above the starting price registered by 5:00 PM Sunday March 6th being accepted.
Owner Mara Szoeke has also created a Facebook Group which offers an alternative way to place a bid along with the opportunity to keep up with the story. Mara also added some great photos to that page from back in 2004 when the Futuro was disassembled at its previous Scoresby location after Mara purchased it. Those photos can be found below; thanks for sharing them Mara.
Owner Mara Szoeke has also created a Facebook Group which offers an alternative way to place a bid along with the opportunity to keep up with the story. Mara also added some great photos to that page from back in 2004 when the Futuro was disassembled at its previous Scoresby location after Mara purchased it. Those photos can be found below; thanks for sharing them Mara.
It seems the late 2015 auction did not result in the sale of this Futuro as it was listed for sale on Gumtree.com.au on 021816. The listing does not include a price; it simply indicates that price is "negotiable".
As always when we write about a Futuro for sale we wish we could be the one to purchase but that is not going to happen so we will content ourselves with the hope that whoever ends up purchasing this unit will do so with the intent to restore and preserve it.
As always when we write about a Futuro for sale we wish we could be the one to purchase but that is not going to happen so we will content ourselves with the hope that whoever ends up purchasing this unit will do so with the intent to restore and preserve it.
In a 101315 post to her Facebook page owner Mara Szoeke provided further details regarding the sale of her Futuro.
The unit is for sale by online auction with a starting price of $50,000. Mara can be contacted at maraszoeke@gmail.com for more information and to register bids.
Bidding will conclude 103015 and the unit must be picked up by 112015. The unit requires a new support structure and floor and it has no interior fittings; it is a disassembled shell only (see photos below).
The unit is for sale by online auction with a starting price of $50,000. Mara can be contacted at maraszoeke@gmail.com for more information and to register bids.
Bidding will conclude 103015 and the unit must be picked up by 112015. The unit requires a new support structure and floor and it has no interior fittings; it is a disassembled shell only (see photos below).
In a 100815 post to the Modernist Australia Facebook page Mara Szoeke, owner of this Futuro indicated that the unit would shortly be put up for auction. Mara added that the unit was already disassembled and ready to be moved and that the auction starting price would be $50K. More information will be posted here as and when it becomes available. If you are looking to purchase a Futuro keep an eye out for updates or sign up for our mailing list to automatically receive any info as soon as we have it.
We received an email this week from Craig Barnes (futurohouse.co.uk), owner of the UK Futuro which included the series of photos shown below. The photos were taken by noted drummer, record producer and songwriter Jack Baker while on tour playing drums for Bonobo. They were playing at the Falls Music & Arts Festival, an annual event that runs at multiple sites; at the Lorne venue the festival ran 122813 through 010114.
Craig tells us that the Futuro
"... was used as the backstage dressing room for the headline act ..."
In this case that act was The Roots who served as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014, and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014. As a part of the supporting act Jack was unable to go inside the Futuro so the photos are exterior only but nevertheless it is a great set of photos and we thank both Jack and Craig for allowing us to display the photos here.
Jack's photos have made us even more convinced that the "Otway Futuro" and the "Lorne Futuro" are one and the same. One of the only reasons we were unsure previously was the condition of the paintwork which appeared to be far better in Mara's photo than in the photo of the "Otway Futuro".
However looking at Jack's photos (taken very recently) there is clear evidence of the deterioration of the finish and the seams between the sections which standout in the "Otway" photo are also evident in some of Jack's shots. It seems to us that Mara's photo is probably the oldest with the "Otway" photo being taken some time between Mara's and Jack's.
As a direct result of the information in Craig's email we have now been able to pinpoint the location of the Futuro using Bing Maps (985 Erskine Falls Rd, Lorne VIC 3232, Australia | 38°31'7.99"S 143°53'14.45"E). Had we used Bing Maps back when we first heard of this Futuro we would have located it then but we used Google Earth and Google Maps and despite looking several times at the exact location we could not identify the Futuro; in fact in Google Maps even having the exact co-ordinates without other evidence it would be hard to say from the satellite imagery that there was definitely a Futuro at the location. Not so with Bing Maps which clearly shows a Futuro.
(050518 | see here for later updated information)
On 021114 in a Facebook post on the Futuro House Facebook page a photo was posted under the title "The Otway Futuro" - the photograph can be seen below.
Our immediate reaction was "cool, the other Scoresby Futuro" and off we went to Google Earth as we normally do with a possible "re-discovered" Futuro to see if we could pin down the location. Searching for Otway however did not bring up any cities, towns or villages which seemed odd. It seems that there is a region in Victoria known as the Otways and that Lorne is in fact located within that region.
That prompted us to go back to the photo and take a closer look. We cannot be sure and of course we could very well be mistaken; it would not be the first time and for sure it will not be the last, but we now believe that the "Otway" Futuro is also the "Lorne Futuro" for the following reasons:
That said we would be very interested in other opinions and we would be particularly interested if someone could provide a definitive answer one way or the other; if you can please let us know.
On 021114 in a Facebook post on the Futuro House Facebook page a photo was posted under the title "The Otway Futuro" - the photograph can be seen below.
Our immediate reaction was "cool, the other Scoresby Futuro" and off we went to Google Earth as we normally do with a possible "re-discovered" Futuro to see if we could pin down the location. Searching for Otway however did not bring up any cities, towns or villages which seemed odd. It seems that there is a region in Victoria known as the Otways and that Lorne is in fact located within that region.
That prompted us to go back to the photo and take a closer look. We cannot be sure and of course we could very well be mistaken; it would not be the first time and for sure it will not be the last, but we now believe that the "Otway" Futuro is also the "Lorne Futuro" for the following reasons:
- Geography - no specific administration called Otway, Lorne being in "The Otways"
- Both units are a similar color
- Both units feature the large modification to the entry way as was seen in the two Scoresby Futuros
- In each case the supporting structure for the modified entry way appears similar
- Though taken from different angles, and likely different times of the year, the position of the trees in relation to the Futuro appears to be similar
That said we would be very interested in other opinions and we would be particularly interested if someone could provide a definitive answer one way or the other; if you can please let us know.
We have heard that this Futuro is no longer on the market. Mara has found suitable storage for the unit and plans on restoring it herself over the next several years. We wish Mara great success with the restoration.
There were a pair of Futuro's located at 1280 Ferntree Gully Rd, Scoresby VIC 3179, Australia until 2004. In this video, "Mara's Caribbean UFO Abduction", posted to Youtube by Russell White we see footage of the disassembly of one of the units following its sale in 2004.
In a note accompanying the video posting Russell indicates that the Futuro was being disassembled:
"ahead of its move to the Victorian, Aireys Inlet hinterland for use as a flop house for surfies and their fellow travelers."
We have spent quite some time looking in Google Earth for the Futuro in that area but we have always come up blank. However it appears that the unit did indeed end up in that area and furthermore is still "alive and kicking".
We check on the Facebook Page "The Futuro House" from time to time but we failed to notice an entry in the "recent posts by others" section on the right towards the top by Mara Szoeke on 112513. The ever watchful Achim Breiling did notice and he sent us an email pointing out the entry - thanks Achim.
Mara's post included this photo (the only one we have seen of this Futuro).
"ahead of its move to the Victorian, Aireys Inlet hinterland for use as a flop house for surfies and their fellow travelers."
We have spent quite some time looking in Google Earth for the Futuro in that area but we have always come up blank. However it appears that the unit did indeed end up in that area and furthermore is still "alive and kicking".
We check on the Facebook Page "The Futuro House" from time to time but we failed to notice an entry in the "recent posts by others" section on the right towards the top by Mara Szoeke on 112513. The ever watchful Achim Breiling did notice and he sent us an email pointing out the entry - thanks Achim.
Mara's post included this photo (the only one we have seen of this Futuro).
The post was accompanied by the following commentary:
"Hello Futuro lovers.... I have a Futuro in Victoria Australia - not an original, but a copy - so none of the interior fittings. I am thinking of selling it. It is currently situated in Lorne on a private property. The purchaser would need to be able to disassemble and remove from the site between mid Jan & end of March 2014. If you are interested please email me innerbiscuit@gmail.com"
An additional entry adds that the aforementioned video "Mara's Caribbean UFO Abduction" shows "how we moved it".
Mara's comment that the Futuro is a copy is interesting. We have never doubted that the two units at Scoresby were Futuros and to be honest we still think that they were which makes this Futuro a "real" one and not a copy.
Perhaps the comment is based on the fact that the unit does not include any of the original Futuro fittings and furnishings. To us that in and of itself does not indicate that the unit is a copy; it is possible it was originally fully fitted out and that the interior got changed out along the way. It is also possible that someone could have had a Futuro manufactured from the original molds but then chose to fit out the interior in their own way; that to us would still be an "original" Futuro.
Finally Mara indicates she is considering selling and provides a contact email for anyone who might be interested. As always we are very interested but unfortunately do not have the resources to purchase, ship and restore a Futuro (now would be a great time for a Lottery jackpot).
We find ourselves wondering if Nick McQuoid might be reading this or has already come across Mara's post (Nick; you out there?). Nick of course seems to be focused on "cornering the market" on Futuros with a current collection of three - two in Rangiora and one yet to be disassembled and shipped from Raglan (along with a Venturo just for good measure). Nick's Futuros are of course in New Zealand but he has already had one shipped from Australia so perhaps another?
Coincidentally there is mention of another Futuro like building in the same area that was apparently destroyed in 1983. In a 081309 forum post Corio recounts that:
"On the seaward side of the Great Ocean Road, just past Big Hill on the way to Lorne, there was a similar building to those pictured, used as a holiday house. AIUI, it was purchased after serving as a "futuristic house" exhibit at a home show in Melbourne in around 1960.
Given its generally inaccessible location down a very steep private driveway, it could only be glimpsed through the bush as you drove past (although drivers can't afford to let their eyes wander on that road). It was visible from Lorne, as a distant, powerful glint in the sun when looking back towards Aireys Inlet.
Sadly, the Ash Wednesday bushfire in 1983 reduced it to a lump of molten metal."
Corio indicates the building was "similar" to those pictured ("those" being Futuros) but with it being purchased around 1960 it predates Futuro. It would be interesting to see what might have been in the area that was similar to a Futuro some eight or so years ahead of Futuro so if anyone knows anything about this please let us know.
"Hello Futuro lovers.... I have a Futuro in Victoria Australia - not an original, but a copy - so none of the interior fittings. I am thinking of selling it. It is currently situated in Lorne on a private property. The purchaser would need to be able to disassemble and remove from the site between mid Jan & end of March 2014. If you are interested please email me innerbiscuit@gmail.com"
An additional entry adds that the aforementioned video "Mara's Caribbean UFO Abduction" shows "how we moved it".
Mara's comment that the Futuro is a copy is interesting. We have never doubted that the two units at Scoresby were Futuros and to be honest we still think that they were which makes this Futuro a "real" one and not a copy.
Perhaps the comment is based on the fact that the unit does not include any of the original Futuro fittings and furnishings. To us that in and of itself does not indicate that the unit is a copy; it is possible it was originally fully fitted out and that the interior got changed out along the way. It is also possible that someone could have had a Futuro manufactured from the original molds but then chose to fit out the interior in their own way; that to us would still be an "original" Futuro.
Finally Mara indicates she is considering selling and provides a contact email for anyone who might be interested. As always we are very interested but unfortunately do not have the resources to purchase, ship and restore a Futuro (now would be a great time for a Lottery jackpot).
We find ourselves wondering if Nick McQuoid might be reading this or has already come across Mara's post (Nick; you out there?). Nick of course seems to be focused on "cornering the market" on Futuros with a current collection of three - two in Rangiora and one yet to be disassembled and shipped from Raglan (along with a Venturo just for good measure). Nick's Futuros are of course in New Zealand but he has already had one shipped from Australia so perhaps another?
Coincidentally there is mention of another Futuro like building in the same area that was apparently destroyed in 1983. In a 081309 forum post Corio recounts that:
"On the seaward side of the Great Ocean Road, just past Big Hill on the way to Lorne, there was a similar building to those pictured, used as a holiday house. AIUI, it was purchased after serving as a "futuristic house" exhibit at a home show in Melbourne in around 1960.
Given its generally inaccessible location down a very steep private driveway, it could only be glimpsed through the bush as you drove past (although drivers can't afford to let their eyes wander on that road). It was visible from Lorne, as a distant, powerful glint in the sun when looking back towards Aireys Inlet.
Sadly, the Ash Wednesday bushfire in 1983 reduced it to a lump of molten metal."
Corio indicates the building was "similar" to those pictured ("those" being Futuros) but with it being purchased around 1960 it predates Futuro. It would be interesting to see what might have been in the area that was similar to a Futuro some eight or so years ahead of Futuro so if anyone knows anything about this please let us know.
- ABC Radio
- Achim Breiling
- Anthony Tran
- Jack Baker
- Craig Barnes [futurohouse.co.uk]
- @futuro_perth
- Gumtree.com.au
- @kjohnj
- Mara Szoeke
- Modernist Australia
None currently known.