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AS OF 102913 THE FUTURO HOUSE PROJECT HAS ITS OWN DOMAIN AND ALL UPDATES ARE NOW FOUND ON THEFUTUROHOUSE.COM

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 UPDATED 080413 | ADDED 090811 | WILLINGBORO, NEW JERSEY, USA | RETURN TO THE MAIN FUTURO HOUSE ARTICLE | RETURN HOME

310 Beverly Rancocas Rd, Willingboro, NJ 08046, USA [Approximate] | 40°1'36.83"N 74°54'32.95"W

Featured Image By Lost In Jersey | Image Date 040709

 
Google Maps | Satellite Imagery Date 100711

Futuro, Willingboro, NJ, USA  
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Additional Images & Video

 
Notes, History & Resources

Additional Videos 080413

Embedded below is a video that was shot by Dan Reed on 071913 - thanks for letting me know about the video Dan. The video clearly shows that the condition of the unit is deteriorating. Dan's video ends with the statement "Someone must save it." I echo that sentiment - I wish I were better placed personally so that I could do something about it myself but unfortunately I do not have the resources.



The video below is by "The Unknown Cameraman" - the footage appears to be a composite of footage from Vernissage TV showing the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Futuro, the Greenwich Futuro and this Futuro in Willingboro. The Willingboro footage starts at 03:13. At one point in the commentary the video indicates the footage has been taken at various points in New Jersey - clearly the Vermissage TV footage was not shot in New Jersey.





Additional Photos 090812

Dennis McDonald, Staff Photographer at the Burlington County Times kindly sent me this photograph of the Futuro being landed in the Village Mall parking lot in Willingboro on 121473. The photograph is reproduced here courtesy of the Burlington County Times.

Futuro, Willingboro, NJ, USA - 121473 Village Mall

PC Rider photo blogs about his travels on AdventureRider.com. In a post dated 071711 PC Rider included the following photos of the Futuro which include a cool shot of the interior. Since there is snow on the ground the photos must have been taken sometime before the post.

Futuro, Willingboro, NJ, USA - PC Rider 1

Futuro, Willingboro, NJ, USA - PC Rider 2

Futuro, Willingboro, NJ, USA - PC Rider 3



Original Photos & Video 090811


Though not strictly a photo Bing Map's gives a nice "bird's eye" view.

The video below shows the delivery of a Futuro House by air to a Mall in Lakewood, NJ where it was to be used a branch of the City Federal Saving Bank in the early 70's. I believe that this is likely the Futuro now located in Willingboro but I cannot be sure.



This video, narrrated by a local, shows the Futuro as it was 071312.

 
Update 072012

Adding updated information about this Futuro yesterday prompted me to revisit the fact that this example has less windows than is typical. Rereading some documents and old emails led me to the likely answer; a simple and obvious one that had just not registered with me on previous occaisions. Anna-Maija Kuitunen in her final thesis for the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Finland "Futuro no. 001 : Documentation and evaluation of preservation need" [available online here] wrote:

"There are many variations of the Futuro house depending on where and for what utility purpose they were made. For example, American markets demanded more spacious rooms with bigger windows which could be opened (Home & Taanila 2004,). In the United States they made an alteration to the steel legs which instead of the steel ring were connected directly to the body of the building. Those Futuros that served as banks could have less windows and those that served as Air Force-owned observation posts could have larger and reinforced windows."

So; it seems the puzzle might not be such a puzzle after all. We know the Futuro was originally used by a bank and so it seems likely that for that reason it was built with fewer windows. Though not stated as a reason in the document it seems not unreasonable to assume that the design change was aimed at enhancing security.

I am now wondering of the Covington Futuro also served duty as a "Spacebank" at one time. Though nothing I have found to date indicates such a past life it might explain why that unit is also constructed with fewer windows than normal.



Update 071912

An interesting article by Dennis McDonald was posted on phillyBurbs.com July 19th 2012. Based on that article it is now evident that this Futuro was in fact the one that spent time in Lakewood, Ocean County AND that it also spent time in the parking lot of the Village Mall in Willingboro [arriving on that site 121473].

In his article McDonald writes that according to an article in the Burlington County Times the "Spacebank" was open for business within 30 minutes of landing in Willingboro with "space-suited guides on duty".

After several years operating as a bank the Futuro was abandoned and then donated to Willingboro township. In the 35 years since the building has been used as office space by township park guards, the recreation department and the local Police Athletic League.



Original Information 090811

This Futuro is interesting in that it appears to be different from many others; it appears to have fewer windows that most though there are others that look similar [Covington for example appears very similar]. For a while I wondered if this was even a Futuro and not some very similar creation but based on all of the research I have done everything points to it being a Futuro [including it being the correct size] and so until I find something to the contrary a Futuro it is.

It appears that this example has moved several times; I cannot find an actual date when it arrived at it's current location but historical imagery in Google Earth places it on site as far back as 1995.

Danielle Burrows indicates in a blog post that this Futuro was in the past [early 70's] used as a branch of the City Federal Savings Bank elsewhere in Willingboro. I am wondering if in fact it is the one that was used as a bank branch in the Lakewood, New Jersey in the early 70's. Film Director Mike Taanila directed a music video in 1998 for Ektroverde's track "Inauguration of a Spacebank" and the video features footage shot in 1972 by Samuel Samson of a Futuro being flown in to what does indeed appear to be a Mall parking lot. That Futuro does feature the same smaller number of windows than normal and it is also clearly identifiable as being for the City Federal Savings Bank.

I can find no evidence of two Futuro's being used in this way so perhaps the one currently in Willingboro was the one from Lakewood or maybe there were two and I have just found no evidence of that. So; if you know anything of the history around this Futuro [or two if indeed there were two] I would love to hear about it.

Sources & Reference
In Print - Books & Magazines


Got new, updated or corrected information or an image I could use?

I am always looking for additional information, history, details, images, videos; just about anything Futuro I guess - if you would like to contribute please use the Futuro Contact Form at the bottom of the main article or email me.

As far as images go I am particularly interested in those that are either significantly better than the ones already on this page or show a different aspect or detail. If you own an image meeting one or both of those criteria I would love to be able to use it on this page but I will simply provide a link if that is your preference. Where permission is granted to use an image on the page appropriate attribution will be provided by means of a link to the original image, a link to a website of your choosing or both.