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What the future used to look like

Futurama

As the year begins, we can't help but wonder what the future might hold. When looking back at future-visions from the past, the experimental architecture of the 1960s holds quite a few ideas that haven't lost their edge. In postwar society, the prospect of limitless economic and demographic growth prompted many utopian designs for mobile living units, from miniature dwellings to megastructures.

On her recent trip to Paris our beloved photo editor Jules stumbled upon the Futuro House by Finnish Architect Matti Suuronen. Originally conceived as a ski cabin in 1964, it's a transportable living capsule that can be set up in any rough terrain, raised on legs with low wind resistance.

Looking at the fun, ellipsoid shape of the Futuro, we find ourselves lost in imaginative scenarios of living in a flying saucer, like nomads moving from one location to the next whenever we wish.

Installed on the Futuro House, Santa Rosa Island, Florida, 2012. © Ken Ratcliff / Flickr Installed on the Futuro House, Santa Rosa Island, Florida, 2012. © Ken Ratcliff / Flickr

Installed on the Futuro House, Santa Rosa Island, Florida, 2012. © TimothyJ / Flickr Installed on the Futuro House, Santa Rosa Island, Florida, 2012. © TimothyJ / Flickr

At around 300 square feet (28 square meters), the Futuro House was designed to accommodate up to eight people. Made from lightweight fiberglass-reinforced plastic, it was suitable for mass fabrication, and although production was quickly suspended—partly due to the oil crisis in 1973—there are still dozens of Futuros spread across the world.

Installed in Örebro, Sweden. © Sebastian F. / Wikimedia Commons Installed in Örebro, Sweden. © Sebastian F. / Wikimedia Commons

Installed at the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Espoo, Finland, 2013. © J-P Kärnä / Wikimedia Commons Installed at the WeeGee Exhibition Centre in Espoo, Finland, 2013. © J-P Kärnä / Wikimedia Commons

Installed in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 2011. © Vincent van der Heijden / Flickr Installed in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 2011. © Vincent van der Heijden / Flickr

Two Futuro Houses near Germantown, Ohio, 2007. © Rob Lamberg / Flickr Two Futuro Houses near Germantown, Ohio, 2007. © Rob Lamberg / Flickr

Installed at the Charles Wilp Space, Witten, Germany, 2013. © Raenmaen / Wikimedia Commons Installed at the Charles Wilp Space, Witten, Germany, 2013. © Raenmaen / Wikimedia Commons

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