Donaldson Futuro House in Idyllwild, California, USA

(wowhaus.co.uk)

42 points | by rmason 1 day ago

10 comments

  • Pinus 3 hours ago
    Whenever someone posts a link about these, I get an irresistible urge to post a link to an article with pictures of one being moved by helicopter, so here goes: https://digitaltmuseum.se/0211812518755/flygvapenmuseums-fut... (in Swedish, but Google Translate usually handles that fairly well).
  • JuniperMesos 41 minutes ago
    It's kinda neat to look at; but I wouldn't actually want to live in a weird, sub-800-square-foot custom house from half a century ago that is probably difficult and expensive to keep comfortable, repair, store furniture in, etc.
  • adamzegelin 24 minutes ago
    University of Canberra has one of these too. Used as a study/meeting room.

    https://www.canberra.edu.au/uc-alumni-canvas/canvas-articles...

  • camkego 52 minutes ago
    Whether you find them beautiful or ugly, I think it’s kind of sad you probably couldn’t build these today as dwellings due to building codes. (Or maybe you could?)
    • shellfishgene 46 minutes ago
      Don't people build all kinds of tiny houses and live in them? How does that work with building codes?
  • bryanrasmussen 35 minutes ago
    the national park service has a nicer outside picture I think https://www.nps.gov/places/donaldson-futuro.htm
  • kidfiji 1 hour ago
    Ahh, funnily enough while flipping through channels on my TV I randomly saw another one of these featured on some TV show about renovating Airbnbs. The one in this article is much more tastefully decorated
  • preetnation 3 hours ago
    This town has a dog for a mayor. No joke.

    Pretty fun place too

  • cluckindan 2 hours ago
    So that’s where the name ”idlewild” came from!
  • sublinear 3 hours ago
    > Quite simply, there are only a small number still in existence

    I suspect it's not just because few were made, and not just because of the questionable materials used.

    I know taste is subjective and the design is iconic, but these really are devastatingly ugly in my opinion. It might just be that some of the previous owners were okay with letting them fade into history.

    I do have a sense of humor though, and would love to see one with a Fiat Multipla parked out front.

    • bryanrasmussen 33 minutes ago
      I feel the stilts are somewhat ugly, the roundness of the house is enticing, although roundness is bad for storage and furnishing things (as everything is built for square things) I have experienced that round rooms are very pleasant to be in.
    • abcd_f 2 hours ago
      It's not they are ugly or beautiful.

      It's just that it's one thing to like how something looks and another is to want to have it.

    • thih9 2 hours ago
      I think it’s actually the design and in particular usability.

      They seem inaccessible and impractical. Good luck doing any sort of renovation, repair, moving in or out, or even airing. Note the single hatch entrance and completely sealed windows.

  • aaron695 2 hours ago
    [dead]