Shaped like a flattened ellipsoid, have you ever seen a house like Futuro 13? This isn’t your typical Berlin architecture. It is a prefabricated house with a unique story. Designed in 1968 by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, fewer than 100 of these were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Futuro 13 stands as a testament to innovative design. It is largely made of plastic. This round house sits on a metal frame. Its dimensions are striking. It measures 8 meters in diameter. It stands 4 meters high. Weighing 4 tons with all its furnishings, it was designed to be easily transported. Imagine it being lifted by helicopters into difficult terrain.
Originally, these houses cost about 12,000 US dollars in 1968. Futuro houses were manufactured in Germany from 1968. The Langenhagen branch of Steffens & Nölle AG produced and distributed them.
Futuro No. 13 has a fascinating history right here in Berlin. It once stood by the Spree River near the Rundfunk der DDR. In 1969, Bayer AG showcased it at the Hanover Fair. They wanted to demonstrate the quality of their plastic for insulation. Later, a Dutch company bought it. They were tasked with equipping the first cultural park of the GDR in Treptow. They established the Parkfunkstudio inside.
After the Spreepark closed, the Futuro house was sold into private hands. It was transported by crane and barge to the other side of the Spree. The new owner restored and furnished it using their own resources.
The Futuro had to be abandoned in 2020. It was transported on a barge. It found an interim location about 1.5 km downstream near “Marina Marina”. Construction sites made it hard to access.
The interior design plans included multiple uses. Matti Suuronen envisioned it as a mountain hut, weekend house, classroom, or doctor’s office. Futuro 13 is currently awaiting careful restoration. There are plans to make it available to institutes and universities for research purposes.
The Futuro represents a vision of the future. It is a blend of art, architecture, and history. Its journey reflects the changing landscape of Berlin itself. The Futuro 13 remains an intriguing piece of architectural history.