A Spaceship on Earth: The Soviet-Armenian Echo of the Futuro House

It all began in 1965, when Finnish architect Matti Suuronen received a commission from a former classmate. The brief was purely practical: design a ski lodge that could be quickly heated, easily assembled, and built in harsh, remote terrain.

Suuronen’s solution was radically unconventional. Instead of tents or wooden cabins, he proposed a compact, modular dwelling shaped like a flying saucer. The structure featured a metal frame wrapped in a durable plastic shell. Already experienced with fiberglass-reinforced polyester, Suuronen chose this material for its light weight, strength, and insulation properties. The house consisted of 16 prefabricated panels and 16 windows and could be assembled in just a few days. It rested on four supports, while its sloped roof allowed snow to slide off naturally.

The Futuro measured 8 meters in diameter and 4 meters in height, offered about 25 m² of interior space, and weighed under three tons. According to Suuronen, it could comfortably accommodate up to eight people. It soon became clear that this design had potential far beyond ski resorts—marking the beginning of the “earthly” life of this architectural UFO.

Fewer than 100 Futuro houses were manufactured in total, and it is estimated that approximately 60 to 70 of them survive today in various locations worldwide.

The first production model appeared in 1968 and was purchased by Finnish actor Matti Kuusla, who installed it on a lakeshore outside the city. Despite its bold vision, the project proved a commercial failure. Rising plastic prices after the 1973 oil crisis, public resistance to its futuristic appearance, and strict building regulations all worked against mass adoption.

The USSR later considered acquiring Futuro units for information kiosks and small pavilions ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. These plans collapsed following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the resulting economic blockade by Europe. Ultimately, only three Futuro structures entered the USSR:

• The Tarelka Hotel in Dombay

• A little-known Futuro in Krasnodar

• The Tarelka Café in Gurzuf

  
  

In Armenia

As this list shows, no original Futuro officially arrived in Armenia. Still, local enthusiasts created their own interpretation of the “flying saucer.” At least one such structure survives today.

Unlike the original Futuro, the Armenian version is made of tin rather than plastic. Information about it is scarce, and I am still gathering details from local residents. I did find an old Soviet magazine photograph showing several similar structures on the grounds of a kindergarten in Spitak. Whether the surviving example is one of those remains uncertain.

Since the late 1990s, I remember this structure standing on the grounds of a roadside café. It served as a small stopover for drivers and travelers resting after Armenia’s long, winding mountain roads. The site remains open today—tables and chairs are still set inside.

The ceiling of the building is decorated with scenes depicting spaceships and astronauts

One detail stands out in particular: the door. It is cleverly engineered and opens with surprising smoothness. Inside, the ceiling is decorated with space-themed photographs—a subtle yet fitting nod to the building’s extraterrestrial appearance. During my urban explorer tours, we always stop here.

For those unfamiliar with the history of Futuro houses, it is simply a building that resembles an alien spacecraft. Only those who know architectural history—especially the story of Futuro houses—recognize connection.