Product Code Database
Matti Suuronen (14 June 1933 – 16 April 2013) was a Finns architect and designer who is best known for designing the Futuro and Venturo homes in the Casa Finlandia series. The marvelous design of the Futuro went into production in both Finland and worldwide under license in various colors, upholstery, and number of seats and rooms. Furthermore, Suuronen is also internationally known for designing buildings (especially the Futuro and Venturo), which made the novel use of materials such as polyester resin, fiberglass, and acrylic windows. Apart from the Futuro and Venturo homes, Suuronen additionally designed several buildings such as apartments, detached and terraced homes, offices, kiosks, petrol stations, and public and industrial buildings. (2005). 9783860682418, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. ISBN 9783860682418 Suuronen's designs have been installed around the world, including such locations as the Centraal Museum in Utrecht.
In 1965, Matti Suuronen was asked by his former schoolmate, Dr. Jaakko Hiidenkari, to design a ski cabin that would be “quick to heat and easy to construct in rough terrain.” The project was called the After-Ski cabin. (2025). 9789525339130, Desura. ISBN 9789525339130 Having already been familiar with the use of fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic in the past, Suuronen used this material in his project to produce the cabin. In addition, the house would consist of 16 pieces that were to be bolted together to form the floor, roof, and shape of the house. This would allow the project to be assembled on site or even be airlifted in one piece by helicopter on site. The ultimately ellipsoidal building shell was based on the decision for a mathematically determinable shape with optimal volume. The contract for constructing it was ultimately awarded to Polykem Ltd., a company that specializes in the manufacturing of plastic and neon signs, following a competitive offer to whoever would build the cabin. The result was a universally transportable home that had the ability to be mass production and situated in almost any environment.
The first ever mass-produced home by Suuronen was Futuro no. 001, which was owned by Finnish actor and screenwriter Matti Kuusla and formerly located in Hirvensalmi, Finland. However, the installation of the house on the wooded shore of Lake Puulavesi caused a local outcry. Nevertheless, the house would make an international breakthrough in October 1968 when the third Futuro (no. 002) was displayed at the Finnfocus 68 fair in London.
Capitalizing on the Futuro's international exposure, Polykem Ltd. soon launched a whole series of plastic buildings designed by Suuronen. The Casa Finlandia series included the CF-100/200 filling station (1969), the CF-10 kiosk (1970) and the CF-45 home/commercial building, better known as Venturo (1971). All buildings in the Case Finlandia series were designed to be durable and convenient to mass-produce, transport, and assembled on site.
In 1969, Suuronen designed the Gulf Oil service station in Lempäälä, which was made from the same materials used in the Futuro. According to old advertisements, Lempäälä was the first in the filling station series to be completed. Three more Gulf stations were produced and erected in Tampere, Vantaa, and Kemi. The last two stations have double the space that covers an area of . critics have noted that some of these early works, such as Suuronen's innovative petrol station design in Lempäälä, suffered long-term performance problems due to the material limitations of early composites.
In 1971, Suuronen designed the Venturo, the last fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic building in the Casa Finlandia series. Originally conceived as a holiday cottage or bungalow, the Venturo were conveniently used as banks, kiosks, cafés, filling stations, and much more. However, the Casa Finlandia series would be a short-lived success. The 1973 oil crisis resulted in gasoline prices to skyrocket, which caused the manufacturing of plastic to be expensive. Because of this the costs of manufacturing plastic buildings rose prohibitively.
Suuronen continued designing standard buildings through the latter of the 20th century.
He Suuronen was always very optimistic about his health. He played volleyball up until his last operation. He never lost his vivid, creative mind and his lust for creating something more for the world.
Suuronen died from a lengthy illness on 16 April 2013 in Espoo, Finland at age 79. He had cancer, as well as heart and respiratory problems.
|
|
