I love this groovy Venturo modular home and the fabulous “Come for the weekend and bring your orange bikini!” sort of lifestyle it promises.
Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed these pods in ‘71 as the home of the future (I wonder when that future will arrive?). According to CollabStudio, the prefabricated structure was originally used as a gas station for BP. Here’s the description from the original brochure:
“This is real vacation living–and you get it instantly, maintenance free because Venturo’s exteriors are in fibreglass, anodized aluminum and glass.”
“The Venturo is a modular, easily transportable building system, having excellent insulation, low weight and designed for minimum assembly on site.”
“The spacious living room with its window walls gives you indoor-outdoor living, creating for you a lifestyle of your own.”
“The compact kitchenette can be supplied completely outfitted with factory installed appliances.”
To see architect Matti Suuronen’s most famous design, the Futuro (commonly known as the UFO house), check out A House That’s Out of This World.
Photos and information via Mod Mom, TreeHugger, JetSetModern, and CollabStudio.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like it could just float away if the water got too high.
Luckily, they would all be prepared in their Speedos and bikinis if that happened, DaK, and could swim back to shore!
OMG. I *love* this. I adore the idea of a self-contained, fully furnished home — very Frank Lloyd Wright, where he would pick out everything from the woodwork to the cutlery and his clients were expected to comply. Our neighborhood has a lot of Lustron homes from the 50s that follow the same concept (http://www.wosu.org/archive/lustron/house.php). The entire interior is metal, and there’s no room for any kind of real-life stuff that my life currently contains: piles of unread books, misplaced Lego’s, half-started craft projects. The concept feels so simple and clean. Even with high heels and hot pants.
Cindy–thanks for the Lustron link. That’s fun. I’m sort of swamped with work right now, but as soon as I have a chance I’ll have to read up on it and do a post on those cool metal houses.
Groovy! I actually had the very same kitchen table and chairs when we were first married, they were inherited from my in-laws. I couldn’t wait untill we had enough money to replace them!
Tracey: Do you know what that kitchen table would go for on eBay now?
Wow very 70’s cool! I ‘m having flashbacks because I grew up in a house with the same orangey kitchen.
I thought this was a lifestyle only Barbie could live up to. I had no idea real people (in real, orange bikinis) were livin’ it up.
And while I agree with CindyK’s Wright comparison, I’m thankful that Frank was more prolific with his architecture and decorating than Matti was. (Though I’m fairly certain I saw this whole house for sale at Ikea last month.)
Funny, Liz, I was thinking the same thing, that it was almost like a (very mod) Barbie Dream House.
Melinda–our kitchen was orange, too! I’ve got to find a photo of it to post sometime (tho my poor mom would be mortified).
Fabulous! Ok, so where are these houses today?! I want one. They’re so cute, I want to pop one in my mouth like candy!
Cindy- I know! My husband reminds me daily, along with all the other things I’ve thrown away over the years.
Maya-
You can buy them in Sweden for about $60,000 USD. After you get yours, invite us all over for a housewarming party, okay?
http://venturohuset.se/
Unfortunately, the site is not in English. Does anyone speak Swedish?
When my husband were in Rome a couple of years ago, we were staying up by the Consulate. Just down the hill from our hotel was a little restaurant in the middle of the sidewalk area that looked much like this. I believe it had more concrete involved, but looked very chic in the evening with the twinkling lights and the bustling people inside. And all of the nightlife peering in at the warm scene from all 4 sides. Instant bistro!
How interesting! Thanks to palmharborbuilders for sharing that story about the bistro in Rome. I’d love to see that.
Regarding the Ventura fiberglass home, I visited the instore display of this home at Macy’s in New York City in 1972. I fell in love with it then, and still admire the same design today. Wish I had purchased one.
Loo at this: who would save these?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cypherone/collections/72157608220563518/