Futuro House

An unusual hotel known as the Futuro House stands on the slope of Mussa-Achitara in Dombay, resembling a landed flying saucer. It was brought here in 1969 and was designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, reportedly as a gift from Finnish president Urho Kekkonen. The compact spheroid is eight meters in diameter, weighs less than three tons, and rests on supports as though ready to move. This mobility was intentional: in an avalanche, it was designed to slide rather than collapse. Inside is space for eight people, with a shower, toilet, and built-in fireplace capable of keeping the temperature above 22°C even in severe cold. Porthole windows frame views of the Caucasus, including Belalakaya and Ine Peak, turning the futuristic object into a quiet mountain refuge.

The Futuro was conceived not as a permanent home but as a temporary shelter where skiers could wait out bad weather. Its space-age form suggested mobility and freedom rather than settlement. Over time, at least nineteen related structures appeared around the world. Some became motels, others art objects, bars, or souvenir shops, but each remained a symbol of a bold vision of the future.