Donaldson Futuro (Landmark #1063)! - The Bill Beaver Project

What the Plaque/Guide Says:

The Donaldson Futuro is significant as an example of America’s collective confidence as a leader in space flight, technological advancement, and economic prosperity. Designed by Finnish architect, Matti Suuronen, this space-age home was the first Futuro to arrive in California, in 1969, and the only Futuro in Califonia to obtain a building permit for residential occupancy. Its modern futuristic Space-Age design, materials, and workmanship retain a high level of integrity from its period of significance. The property is identified as the Donaldson Futuro in recognition of owners, Wayne and Laurie Donaldson’s, extensive restoration effort that successfully preserved this fragile resource and raised the profile of early mid-century plastic buildings.

More about California Historical Landmark #1062:

The Futuro was designed to be a portable ski chalet, quick to heat, easy to assemble in rough terrain, and able to house eight folks! It’s made of a composite of fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic, polyester-polyurethane, and poly(methyl methacrylate), which was inspired by the plastic dome of a grain silo in the city of Seinäjoki!

The first Futuro was installed at Lake Puula and immediately met with resistance because it looked out of place. They were banned across most of the USA by zoning regulation, and as plastic became less popular following the oil crisis of 1973, construction of new Futuros halted completely! Sadly, the house of the future brought neither fame nor fortune to Mr. Suuronen, and today only 63 Futuros survive worldwide! The Donaldson Futuro, though, moved from San Diego in 2004 up here to Idyllwild, where it got an 8-year makeover and now stands proudly among the mountain peaks!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Become a member of the Idyllwild Area Historical Society!
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Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!