Those looking for property in the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area are generally drawn to the mix of mountain scenery, rustic charm and small-town vibes.
But a home that has recently gone on the market has another different, decidedly more out-of-this-world, selling point: the chance to live in what looks like a spacecraft you’d expect to see a bunch of aliens pop out of in a ’50s sci-fi movie.
The 793-square-foot and 11,900-pound spherical home is one of what The Wall Street Journal reported is an estimated 100 plastic Futuro homes designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in the late 1960s. The newspaper reported that only about 50 to 60 are thought to remain. And now, one could be yours fora cool $1.495 million.
The home's weight is worthy of mention,
in part, because Futuro homes were designed to be transported from one destination to another, including, famously, by helicopter. The one-bed, one-bath home also has a retractable staircase that can be accessed from a hatch at the bottom of the structure — space alien style.
The Pine Cove home is known as The Donaldson Futuro and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. The listing, which is being handled by agent Tim McTavish of Sotheby’s Desert International Realty, describes The Donaldson Futuro as “a notable icon in California space-age architecture” and “an example of America’s collective confidence as a leader in space flight, technology advancement and economic prosperity.”
The home is currently owned by Milford Wayne Donaldson, a preservation architect and space enthusiast who told The Wall Street Journal he purchased the Futuro when it was slated to be destroyed and ultimately had it moved from San Diego to Pine Cove in 2004.
The Futuro was moved by truck, escorted by the California Highway Patrol, in a public spectacle that blocked several highway lanes when getting permission to move it by helicopter proved to be impractical. The alpine Idyllwild location is similar to that of Suuronen’s first Futuro in Finland.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the home was given a a 1960s makeover consisting of a popcorn ceiling, linoleum floors and more. The NRHP listing noted the home was in “excellent condition” and retains its historic integrity.
Donaldson, who spent a week a year visiting the Futuro with his wife, has said he is selling because his house is failing and it is becoming difficult to maintain the house.
“In case something should happen to me, she’s not going to be strapped with trying to sell it,” he said. “It’s best to try to find a buyer now (who) really appreciates it…. And doesn’t just do an Airbnb or something.”
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Spaceship-like home in California mountains up for sale. See inside
