The House of the Future also known as the Ahwatukee House of the Future is an example of a

home of the future The home of the future, similar to the office of the future, is a concept that has been popular to explore since the early 20th century, or perhaps earlier. There have been many exhibits, such as at World's Fairs and theme parks, purporting to sho ...

located in

Ahwatukee Ahwatukee Foothills (also Ahwatukee) is an urban village of Phoenix, Arizona. Ahwatukee forms the southernmost portion of Phoenix, and is considered part of the East Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. In 2022, ''Niche'' rated Ahwatu ...

, an

urban village In urban planning and design, an urban village is an urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space. Contemporary urban village id ...

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...

. The idea was originated by

Randall Presley Randall Edward Presley (1919–2012) was a real estate developer who has been called "one of California's top home builders." He was responsible for developing over 160 communities in Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and California ...

, the developer of Ahwatukee to promote his then-new development and bring more residences to the then-less populated Ahwatukee neighborhood. The House was designed by Charles R. Schiffner

Taliesin Associated Architects Taliesin Associated Architects was an architectural firm founded by apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright to carry on his architectural vision after his death in 1959. The firm disbanded in 2003. It was headquartered at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, A ...

of the

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 91. Today it is the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Open to the public for tours, Taliesin ...

in Scottsdale, who got inspiration from his drawings of one of his box projects originally intended for Mr. and Mrs. Wright. It was opened for tours in 1980; tours cost $3. Between 1980 and 1984 the House attracted approximately 250,000 people, who were also given tours of various

model home A show house, also called a model home or display home, is a term for a "display" version of manufactured homes, or houses in a subdivision. They are used on newly built developments to show the living space and features of homes available. Show ...

s in the development. After four years the House was sold, and is now in private ownership, having changed hands several times. The House was "the first microprocessor controlled house". Designed in coordination with

Motorola Motorola, Inc. () was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent public companies, Motorol ...

it had multiple Motorola MC6800

microprocessor A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circ ...

s that "opened and closed windows, adjusted blinds, and stored tax records, shopping lists, and video games." The system consisted of ten microprocessors, and cost $30,000 in 1980 dollars. The three-bedroom house had an unconventional design. "Most of it is below ground. It includes a two-storey 'atrium', or sky-lobby, from which all the rooms lead off. This contains plants and provides a central conversation area." "Dozens of companies helped build the property at an estimated cost of more than $2 million, a portion of it in donated materials." When it opened the house became a media sensation. “It was covered in periodicals, the media of the time, in 33 different countries. It became a world-famous house, in essence.”

References

{{Reflist Futures projects Modernist architecture in Arizona Architecture in Arizona Modernist architecture