Fancy owning a UFO-shaped tiny home? Now’s your chance.

An ultra-rare Futuro house, designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968, has come on the market in New Zealand.

Only 100 of Suuronen’s egg-shaped Futuro houses were ever built, and just 60 are thought to survive today. The architectural oddities were intended as portable ski-chalets, made from fibreglass-reinforced polyester plastic, with stilt legs that ensure they touch lightly on the terrain.

Around a dozen were constructed under license in Christchurch and were displayed at the 1974 Commonwealth games. This Futuro house, dubbed the ‘New Brighton’ Futuro, is located in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, though it can be easily relocated.

The 8-metre-wide UFO-like dwelling has appeared at Christchurch Botanical Gardens and The Cathedral Square and has been relocated just twice in the last ten years. It is partially renovated is ready for tinting in the owner’s choice – a classic Kiwi white, prototype blue or Finnish orange are few striking options – while the door hatch opens and closes via a counter-weight attached to cabling.

According to the listing, which has attracted over 38,000 views already, ‘the internals has been cleared’ from its 2006 relocation offering ‘a clean slate from which to work.’ Its Marimekko couches and historical plaques, mounted on internal surfaces, will remain intact for the new owner. Also included in the sale: an original fibreglass kitchen bench, two couch units, and a fibreglass shelving wall unit (with two currently in storage). There’s also an original mattress and window moulds that can be used as a reference for further upgrades.

The guide-price starts from $300,000 NZD and interested parties can email futurochchnz@gmail.com with their offer before 5 December 2020.

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