Back to Futuro: Visit a "Spaceship" Lovingly restored 1960 Home - 'The first time I saw this house Futuro I was 3, "says the artist London-based Craig Barnes. Throughout his childhood, Barnes was a regular visitor to South Africa, where a 1960s prefab houses "spaceship" was located. Whenever he visited the area with his family, he always wanted to go see the house Futuro. During a trip back in South Africa years later, Barnes realized his childhood dream of buying the Futuro, and embarked on a journey of restoration.
Chris Snook
Houzz at a Glance
who owns Craig Barnes, an artist
property a restored 1960 Futuro House
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 6 reclining pod seats
Location Currently landed on the roof central Saint Martins College London
the Futuro house was designed in the 1960s swing by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen as a holiday home easy to assemble. Its look and the modern form reflects the spirit of optimism and experimentation that characterizes the decade, and the houses were built in the world. But the House Futuro fell from fashion and a lot of the original ones were abandoned, which is how Barnes finds his example, crumbling and faded, urgently need repair. Luckily it was up to the challenge, and he returned this iconic piece of architecture to its former glory.
"I am a habitual collector of things," said Barnes, 'and I want to find articles on my travels. "However, he acknowledged that the collection of house and trying to bring home was on a slightly larger scale than anything he had ever attempted. "He has not quite in the bag, this time!" He laughed.
who owns Craig Barnes, an artist
property a restored 1960 Futuro House
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 6 reclining pod seats
Location Currently landed on the roof central Saint Martins College London
the Futuro house was designed in the 1960s swing by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen as a holiday home easy to assemble. Its look and the modern form reflects the spirit of optimism and experimentation that characterizes the decade, and the houses were built in the world. But the House Futuro fell from fashion and a lot of the original ones were abandoned, which is how Barnes finds his example, crumbling and faded, urgently need repair. Luckily it was up to the challenge, and he returned this iconic piece of architecture to its former glory.
"I am a habitual collector of things," said Barnes, 'and I want to find articles on my travels. "However, he acknowledged that the collection of house and trying to bring home was on a slightly larger scale than anything he had ever attempted. "He has not quite in the bag, this time!" He laughed.
Chris Snook
The Futuro House was marketed as a holiday flat-pack home or weekend retreat ski. The design meant it was easy to disassemble and rebuild on a slope or other rough terrain. "It encapsulated the spirit of what was such an optimistic experimental era," said Albert Hill, founding director of La Maison Moderne, a realtor dealing exclusively in m odern architecture. It has also been designed to be cheap and light, so was constructed from polyester -. a new material at the time
The Futuro was launched in July 1969, the same week Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. As such, "he rode the wave of euphoria in space," said David Walker WowHaus, a website that showcases the interesting architecture. "It was your own spaceship and even today it seems that the idea of everyone to an alien spaceship.
The Futuro was launched in July 1969, the same week Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. As such, "he rode the wave of euphoria in space," said David Walker WowHaus, a website that showcases the interesting architecture. "It was your own spaceship and even today it seems that the idea of everyone to an alien spaceship.
Before Photo
However, despite an initial outbreak advertising (we were even sailed on the Thames in 1968 on his way to an exhibition), the Futuro was a commercial failure. Less than 100 were made and, despite becoming "cult" items for collectors, many were abandoned as time passed and fashion has changed.
While some cite the oil crisis of the 1970s as the culprit, causing the price of inflated plastic, others believe it was the circular form that people could not get to. "Imagine assembling your furniture and current effects in a Futuro house and you can see the problem, said David Walker. "Great concept, not necessarily a practical living space.
What was the way Barnes Futuro ended in such a state sorry." Before I bought the Futuro had changed hands several times, Barnes said. "it was used as a house, but it had fallen into disuse. the front door had fallen and was discarded and the interior was ruined.
Barnes was able to convince the current owner to sell the Futuro to him, and he was just a case of getting home.
While some cite the oil crisis of the 1970s as the culprit, causing the price of inflated plastic, others believe it was the circular form that people could not get to. "Imagine assembling your furniture and current effects in a Futuro house and you can see the problem, said David Walker. "Great concept, not necessarily a practical living space.
What was the way Barnes Futuro ended in such a state sorry." Before I bought the Futuro had changed hands several times, Barnes said. "it was used as a house, but it had fallen into disuse. the front door had fallen and was discarded and the interior was ruined.
Barnes was able to convince the current owner to sell the Futuro to him, and he was just a case of getting home.
Before photo
Take care to number each section of the structure, Barnes carefully disassembled and packed the Futuro be returned to the UK. "We thought it could fit in one shipping container, "Barnes said," but it was too big, so we had to squeeze in and hold it tight with cables -. As many cables as we could find in the city
Fortunately, after a grueling two months as he made his way across the seas, the Futuro arrived free in the United Kingdom - where he then sat in storage for six months. At the end of 2013, Barnes moved to a barn in Herefordshire and began the slow but steady process of restoring it. Living in London by this point, he commuted back to the barn to spend time working on the project.
Fortunately, after a grueling two months as he made his way across the seas, the Futuro arrived free in the United Kingdom - where he then sat in storage for six months. At the end of 2013, Barnes moved to a barn in Herefordshire and began the slow but steady process of restoring it. Living in London by this point, he commuted back to the barn to spend time working on the project.
Chris Snook
Keen to his research properly, Barnes visited Finland to meet Marko home, the author of the only book on the history of the house, Futuro :. House of Tomorrow From Yesterday
Widely regarded as the leading expert in the field, Marko first became interested in the world of Futuro in 1995. "at this time, a Futuro House been almost forgotten and was not presented in the architecture and design books, "he says. So with director Mika Taanila he had establish the history of Futuro from scratch. "We interviewed Matti Suuronen and others involved in Futuro back in its heyday, went through all kinds of archival documents and usually collected every piece of information on Futuro we could find, he said.
"what I find most fascinating of the Futuro is that, despite his failure as commercial product, it has survived the test of time to have a second life as the late icon of the 1960s architecture of the space age and design and even an art object.
Widely regarded as the leading expert in the field, Marko first became interested in the world of Futuro in 1995. "at this time, a Futuro House been almost forgotten and was not presented in the architecture and design books, "he says. So with director Mika Taanila he had establish the history of Futuro from scratch. "We interviewed Matti Suuronen and others involved in Futuro back in its heyday, went through all kinds of archival documents and usually collected every piece of information on Futuro we could find, he said.
"what I find most fascinating of the Futuro is that, despite his failure as commercial product, it has survived the test of time to have a second life as the late icon of the 1960s architecture of the space age and design and even an art object.
Before photo
Back in the UK, Barnes began the laborious task of sanding the exterior panels. Take care to complete all sections deteriorated, he worked on each panel, in turn, prepare to be resprayed their brilliant turquoise color of origin.
"I wanted to restore the original design Finland," he said. "I believe in respecting the integrity of an object; I'm not always a fan of upcycling. This does not mean that there are no ways I could look to build on the existing model in the future, he said, but I wanted to return it to its original condition first, rather than change too drastically. "
"I wanted to restore the original design Finland," he said. "I believe in respecting the integrity of an object; I'm not always a fan of upcycling. This does not mean that there are no ways I could look to build on the existing model in the future, he said, but I wanted to return it to its original condition first, rather than change too drastically. "
Before photo
Before photo
The inside was in a sorry state, too. Fortunately, a small section of the seat was still intact, so that Barnes was able to have molds made from it to recreate the original exterior.
Chris Snook
he also was able to recover one of the original elliptical windows and used as a guide for new information.
Chris Snook
Because door had been cast, Barnes had to have a new built from scratch. "It is not something that can easily be bought in a hardware store!" He said. Another owner Futuro had a mold of his own front door made for this and a new set of measures should be designed.
Chris Snook
Barnes restored a (pretty tight) double bed, which is nestled in a corner of the basket. In most original Futuros, it would have been thrown out to create a sleeping area.
Chris Snook
When Barnes bought the Futuro, there was a small kitchenette in the corner, he has partially restored here. It is not yet finished, but it has the potential to be in the future.
Chris Snook
the rest of the interior was kept deliberately minimal. "I wanted to keep bare architecture," says Barnes. "I think when you add trinketry, it begins to break down as a space.
This door leads to the main living area and sleeping area of the Futuro in the "porch", off which the bathroom is located.
See 11 minimalist lessons can teach disorder
This door leads to the main living area and sleeping area of the Futuro in the "porch", off which the bathroom is located.
See 11 minimalist lessons can teach disorder
Chris Snook
a small pod bathroom to the left of the entrance is decorated in a similar style to the original. Many of the original Futuros had mounted showers, toilets and small sinks.
Read expert advice for staying on top of a bathroom renovation
Read expert advice for staying on top of a bathroom renovation
Chris Snook
work continues at a steady pace until, with so many projects, a delay arose and picked up pace. This period was as an opportunity to expose the Futuro completed in a London gallery, so work began in earnest.
Chris Snook
in October 2014 after 10 months of hard work, Futuro finished was taken to London for its unveiling at Matt's Gallery in the east of the city. Polished and returned to its former glory, it is easy to see the appeal of such an eccentric piece of architecture. They are those adorable little buildings, it's hard not to smile when you see them, said Albert Hill.
It is thanks to people like Barnes that such examples are still there. "It may have been limited to on scrapheap of history, but for some dedicated fans," said David Walker.
It is thanks to people like Barnes that such examples are still there. "It may have been limited to on scrapheap of history, but for some dedicated fans," said David Walker.
Chris Snook
a few months later, the Futuro was moved to its current location on the roof of Central St Martins in London art school, where it is open to the public one day a month can also be rented by groups.
Chris Snook
So what is the future for the Futuro? One day, Barnes would like to find a permanent home for her, but for now, he believes that using it as a public space is important.
"Like any work of art, it needs to be experienced by people coming into its own," he said. "In a perfect world, I imagine to be a ship traveling ensuring various functions. It is an important element of architectural design and i want others to experience it. "
Marko agrees. 'the Futuro perfectly captured the spirit 1960 utopian architecture that challenged existing practices, and heritage should be kept alive as a reminder of this experimental spirit alone, not to mention the countless other reasons. "
"Like any work of art, it needs to be experienced by people coming into its own," he said. "In a perfect world, I imagine to be a ship traveling ensuring various functions. It is an important element of architectural design and i want others to experience it. "
Marko agrees. 'the Futuro perfectly captured the spirit 1960 utopian architecture that challenged existing practices, and heritage should be kept alive as a reminder of this experimental spirit alone, not to mention the countless other reasons. "
Chris Snook
And personally? "a trip around the world to visit the other remaining Futuros would be incredible, Barnes said with a laugh.
Tell us ...
What do you think of this emblematic house? Let us know in the comments below .
Tell us ...
What do you think of this emblematic house? Let us know in the comments below .
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