A rare and elusive architectural gem – a neon-bright space pod – is available for lease or sale in Perth, and is just one of a handful of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen’s creations to remain intact worldwide.
Dubbed Futuro House, the 50sqm 1960s vessel was one of fewer than 100 modular, futuristic housing 1960s space-age utopianism creations by Suuronen.
Today, there are said to be only 40 remaining across the world, with seven located in Australia – one of them at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).
Another of the architectural ‘UFOs’ used to be something of a landmark in Perth, and was located on Leach Highway, in Perth’s south for many years.
After spending 18 months on Futuro House’s restoration, its owner Kyle Jeavons – director of development firm Human Urban – said it was a good time to offer his passion project for rent, or sale, to open the idea pool.
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A yellow Futura House at Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Finland. Picture: Creative Commons
“It is such a unique and beautiful piece of architecture and could be so many things to the right home …gallery, bar, accommodation, community space etcetera,” he said.
Mr Jeavons acquired Futuro from Marcus Canning, the chief executive of ArtRage at the time, who had plans for it to be part of a potential Fringe World venue at some point.
A Futuro House in Dombay, Russia in 2022. Picture: Getty
“It was in Melbourne and previously used as somewhat of a green room and creative space at the Falls Music and Arts Festival. If walls could talk!” Mr Jeavons said.
“Many people in Perth would have been familiar with the Futuro that was used as a residential sales office on Leach Highway – but this is not that one!”
The idea behind Futuro came from a Dr Jaakko Hiidenkari who commissioned Suuronen in 1965 to design a ski chalet to be located in Janakkala in central Finland.
One of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen’s Futuro Houses on Tower Pier in London in 1968. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Suuronen’s brainchild was for a prefabricated ski-cabin that was light and easily transportable to remote locations, and could be constructed on site.
The sale of Futuro is being facilitated by social enterprise Spacemarket, and director Sarah Booth said the vessel is currently a completely refurbished shell, awaiting assembly at its future new home.
She said the new owner, or lessee would need to fit it out on the inside.
Inside a Futuro House in 1969. Picture: Keystone/Getty Images
“We are looking to rent the refurbished shell out for approx $5000 plus GST per month,” she said. “We are open to a sale to the right owner.”
Ms Booth said they had been inundated with enquiry, with some people keen to use it as additional accommodation, to wineries and high-net worth individuals expressing interest.
“Once the fit out is in, it’s about 35sqm (internal space),” she said.
An orange Futuro House in the Les Puces de Paris (Marche aux Puces), Saint Ouen, the largest antiques market in the world. Picture: Getty
“It was designed as a ski chalet so its really small, so for accommodation it would be for a couple – comfortably you could have a living room, and you can have a bathroom and a bed but then as a little bar you could put 15-20 people in it standing, or it could be a little gallery.”
Comprised of fibreglass with insulation, an experienced boat builder has painstakingly restored Futuro House to its former glory after being in an extremely dilapidated state when it was acquired by Mr Jeavons.
It is now a blue hue, which was one of the three original Futuro colours, Ms Booth said.
“At the site it’s assembled into almost like a UFO.
“The beautiful door that steps down has all been restored, and all the windows have been restored.
A Futuro House in Munich, Germany at the Pinakothek der Moderne in the Kunstareal. Picture: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ideally, Ms Booth believed Futuro will be most appreciated by someone interested in collectibles.
“I think someone that’s interested in architecture,” Ms Booth said.
“Someone that’s interested in something different with a story and character … the cost of the Futuro House is cheaper than building a house.
“It’s [for] someone who wants something different … in itself, it is a piece of marketing because it’s so Instagram-able. It’s such an iconic piece of architecture.”
