Contributed by: Preservation New Jersey
Organization: Preservation New Jersey
Dated Posted: September 15, 2026
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Last year, the New Jersey Historic Trust awarded a $39,465 grant to the Willingboro town government to author a long-awaited plan to preserve the Futuro House and a nomination for the National Register.

“This is the first step towards refurbishing it because it's been sitting in the park all these years just deteriorating,” said Patricia Lindsay-Harvey, Willingboro Community Development Corporation, which is managing the grant on behalf of the town government. “And given that there's not many left in this country, we have a chance to have a real landmark that makes Willingboro a destination for people to come see.”

The Futuro House — a whimsical flying saucer-shaped building about 26 feet wide — was one of about 100 of its kind. A Finnish architect named Matti Suuronen designed and manufactured them beginning in the 1968 to use as portable ski chalets. There are only 18 of them known to remain in the United States. One reason so few are left is that Suuronen used unorthodox materials, including plastic and fiberglass, which can be tricky to maintain and renovate.

Read Full Story: https://preservationnj.org/the-fight-to-preserve-the-futuro-house-reaches-a-new-milestone-with-new-jersey-historic-trust-grant/