Matti Suuronen: The Pioneer of Prefab Houses

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🗞️ The Story

In the world of architecture, there are standout figures known not only for their innovative designs but also for their visionary outlook on living spaces. One such luminary is Matti Suuronen, a Finnish architect whose impact in the 1960s and 1970s transformed the idea of prefab houses.

Suuronen was an optimistic designer whose belief in the future resonated strongly in his works. His designs weren't just buildings; they were futuristic marvels that symbolized an era captivated by space exploration and technological advancement.

The Futuro house, 1968

The Futuro looks more like a UFO than a house.

Originally intended as a ski chalet, this radical design was later promoted as a small prefabricated home that could be easily assembled and placed on almost any terrain. Its construction and futuristic appearance give it a unique identity bridging both the future and the past.

While the support legs were wrought of metal, the habitable space was built of what was—at that time—a relatively novel building material: fiberglass-reinforced plastic. This choice was driven by several factors, including the need to reduce weight so that a Futuro House could be easily lifted by a helicopter if required.

The curved form allows for an interior space that is 26' in diameter and 11' high in the center. The circular scheme continues on the inside with curved seating, kitchen counters and pie shaped segments for a bedroom and bathroom. It featured a full kitchen, separate bedroom and bathroom and a central barbecue/firepit with a built in stereo underneath.

First launched in 1968 at $12,000 USD, the house gained widespread attention in Finland and internationally. However, the 1973 oil crisis significantly increased plastic prices, leading to a short production window.

Less than 100 of these futuristic pods were manufactured, and today fewer than 60 remain. Over time, some models have deteriorated, while others have found new uses, including one serving as a VIP lounge at a Florida strip club.

The Venturo House, 1971

Follwing the international attention the Futuro house had gained, Suuronen designed the Venturo house, which featured its signature rounded corners.

The Venturo was intended to be a mass-produced weekend cottage that would be easy for the manufacturer to ship and reassemble.

This marked the inception of Casa Finlandia, a collection of buildings constructed from reinforced plastic. The licensing rights for Venturo houses were sold to 23 countries, resulting in approximately 20 Venturo houses being produced in Finland. Most of these found use in private settings, while others were repurposed as petrol stations and kiosks.

🏡 Buy It For The Architecture