Donaldson Futuro, a UFO-shaped prefab house in Idyllwild, California, lists for $1.495 million
A unique Futuro house designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen is now on the market for $1.495 million in Idyllwild, California. This property, owned by historic preservationist Milford Wayne Donaldson and his spouse, Laurie, is listed with Desert Sotheby’s International Realty at 52895 Big Rock Road. The home, which is part of the National Register of Historic Places, has been carefully restored to reflect its original 1969 design. Suuronen created the Futuro as a lightweight, prefabricated ski lodge. It features a diameter of 8 meters and a height of 4 meters, offering 73.7 square meters of space while weighing approximately 5,398 kg. Fewer than 100 units were produced, making the remaining examples highly valued for their rarity and cultural importance.
Key facts
- The Donaldson Futuro is listed for $1.495 million in Idyllwild, California.
- It was designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen.
- The house is owned by historic preservationist Milford Wayne Donaldson and his wife, Laurie Donaldson.
- It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- The structure measures approximately 8 meters in diameter and 4 meters in height, with 73.7 square meters of interior space.
- It weighs approximately 5,398 kg and sits on a 0.23-hectare property in the San Jacinto Mountains.
- Fewer than 100 Futuros were built.
- The 1973 oil crisis increased the cost of producing synthetic materials, undermining the economic premise of plastic architecture.
Entities
Artists
- Matti Suuronen
- Milford Wayne Donaldson
- Laurie Donaldson
Institutions
- Desert Sotheby’s International Realty
- National Register of Historic Places
- Sotheby’s International Realty
- Obama administration
Locations
- Idyllwild
- California
- United States
- San Jacinto Mountains
- 52895 Big Rock Road
- Finland