Futuro House, Pensacola Beach FL, 1968, MidCentury Modern, Part II.
FUTURO is Here Again Images by Author. Overall view of assembly (L); Southern hospitality (R) The Futuro House at 1304 Panferio Dr. in Pensacola Florida is a local icon. Sited atop a one-story concrete block base, the plain white "flying saucer" taunts passing motorists with two aliens peering out of one of its elliptical window portals and a third alien at the grade level glass door behind a bright orange sign reading "KEEP OUT". While these feeble efforts hardly deter the curious, they underscore local curiosity and reflect how along with a kitchy neon sign and a beach-ball themed water tower this home is just as much a cultural icon of the area. The Futuro House is one example of what are believed to be around 60 extant Futuro homes worldwide . Introduced in 1968 by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, these space-age pods were meant to be deployed and easily assembled even in rugged mountain terrain, sandy beaches, and even outer space. 1 Envi