In SoCal, a Space-Age Futuro Prefab Has Landed on the Market for $1.5M
Location: 52895 Big Rock Road, Idyllwild, California
Price: $1,495,000
Year Built: 1969
Architect: Matti Suuronen
Restoration Date: 2008
Restoration Designers: Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, & Laurie Donaldson
Footprint: 793 square feet (1 beds, 1 baths)
Lot Size: 0.56 acres
From the Agent: "Nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild, California, the Donaldson Futuro is an extraordinary example of 20th-century architecture and one of the rarest residential structures in America.
Designed as a portable, prefabricated dwelling, the Futuro was conceived as a futuristic home that could be transported to virtually any destination—famously even by helicopter. Its unmistakable elliptical form, sculptural profile, and space-age aesthetic have made the Futuro an internationally recognized icon of experimental architecture.
Measuring 26 feet, 4 inches in diameter and 13 feet, 2 inches high, the structure encompasses approximately 793 square feet and weighs around 11,900 pounds. Constructed of reinforced fiberglass-polyester plastic, the Futuro sits at the intersection of design, engineering, technology, and popular culture at the dawn of the space age.
This Futuro has been extensively restored inside and out and remains in excellent condition, retaining the integrity of its original 1969 design. Its preservation is particularly significant because so few original Futuros survive.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and formally recognized as the Donaldson Futuro by the National Park Service and the State of California, the property reflects extensive restoration and preservation efforts by its owners. Their dedication helped save this fragile and culturally significant structure while raising awareness of the surviving Futuro homes around the world.
Designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in the late 1960s, the Futuro was originally conceived as a portable ski cabin that could be easily constructed on rugged terrain. This American-made example arrived in California in 1969, the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Made from fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic, the flying saucer–shaped structure measures approximately 26 feet across and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds. An aircraft-like hatch folds down to form the entrance stairs.
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Inside, the circular floor plan revolves around a central storage unit, which originally supported a metal fireplace. The fireplace was removed for fire-safety reasons, and the opening in the ceiling was repurposed as a skylight and light fixture.
The curved sofa and white coffee tables are original to the home. The furniture can be rearranged to create additional sleeping space.
The original dining table sits beside a row of bubble windows, which were restored using an original window from a Futuro in Australia as a model.
The kitchen pairs bright-green cabinetry with original Formica countertops, an electric range, and an under-counter refrigerator.
The original kitchen includes sliding storage cabinets, while the pantry doors feature custom, elliptical black acrylic handles.
The bedroom retains its original built-in bed platform with storage underneath, curved counters, drawers, and mirrored sliding closet doors.
The compact bathroom retains its original sink, curved countertop, mirrored cabinet, and cantilevered toilet. An oval window looks out onto the surrounding trees.
The Donaldson Futuro is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 1062. The house was restored by architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, who was appointed by President Obama to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Donaldson purchased the deteriorating structure in 2002 and undertook an extensive restoration.
Before settling into its mountain home, the Futuro spent decades moving around San Diego, stopping at the Naval Training Center and later serving as a U.S. Air Force recruiting office. It eventually ended up in a parking lot, where it sat deteriorating for years.
During restoration, the Futuro’s green paint was stripped away to reveal the original Harvest Gold finish, which was subsequently restored.
In December 2004, the Futuro made a 130-mile trip from San Diego to its present location near Idyllwild, traveling in one piece on a truck with a highway patrol escort.
A crane lifted the prefab into place on a rocky outcropping surrounded by pines and oaks—a setting chosen to evoke the mountainous location of Suuronen’s first Futuro in Finland.
The Donaldson Futuro at 52895 Big Rock Road in Idyllwild, California, is currently listed for $1,495,000 by Tim McTavish of Desert Sotheby’s International Realty.
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