The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto's Vision of Tomorrow

by David A Bossert

Overview

Step inside The House of the Future, the iconic Disneyland attraction that captured the imagination of countless visitors during its ten-year run from 1957 to 1967. In this meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated book, readers will take a journey through the conception, construction, opening, lasting impact, and ultimate closure of this groundbreaking exhibit. 

The House of the Future was a pioneering experiment in living that showcased cutting-edge construction techniques and futuristic household appliances, including the now-ubiquitous microwave oven. It was a glimpse into a world of endless possibility and unbridled optimism, brought to life through the vision of Walt Disney, his Imagineering team, MIT, and Monsanto. 

With stunning, never-before-seen photographs and illustrations, this book offers a deep dive into the world of The House of the Future and the lasting impact it had on generations of visitors. 

The House of the Futureis more than a historical artifact; it's a testament to the power of imagination, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of progress.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735769189
Publisher:	The Old Mill Press
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

David A. Bossert is an award-winning artist, filmmaker, and author with over 35 years of experience in the animation industry. He began his career at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he contributed his talents to many iconic films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, and Fantasia/2000, among others. Throughout his career, Bossert has been recognized for his innovative contributions to the field and has been awarded several patents for his work on digital imaging. Learn more at davidbossert.com

Editorial Reviews

The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto's Vision of Tomorrow has won a silver award from the Nonfiction Book Awards.

“The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto’s Vision of Tomorrow will be a very popular book with Disney fans! I am not quite old enough to have experienced The House of the Future at Disneyland, but I can’t wait to read more about it. The foreword of The House of the Future is by Bob Weis.” –Mousesteps.com

"David Bossert’s beautiful and comprehensive book will appeal to Disneyland fans, many of whom may have visited the House of the Future while it was in the Park. For those who missed it, they will find exquisite detail in this book, accompanied by many never-before-seen images. And there will be many architects, interior designers, urban planners, and cultural historians who will see this book as a chronicle of a milestone in design history. It’s an immersive innovation, one that involved some of the finest residential design thinkers of the time.” —Bob Weis, Former President Walt Disney Imagineering.

"David A. Bossert's book, "The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto's Vision of Tomorrow," explores the iconic Disneyland attraction that showcased a futuristic vision in the 1950s. Bossert provides a rich visual journey with photographs and historical context, revealing the House of the Future's corporate ties to Monsanto and its emphasis on plastic. The book also delves into the attraction's construction challenges and room-by-room tour. It's a must-read for Disney enthusiasts and anyone interested in mid-century architecture and plastic's historical significance." —Dan Heaton, Tomorrow Society

“Walt’s vision for Disneyland was part amusement park, part studio backlot, and part World’s Fair, where the public saw dreams of the near future. Dave Bossert’s fabulous new book on Disneyland’s House of the Future explores how this attraction … offered a unique and realistic vision for future living….” —Todd James Pierce, author of Three Years in Wonderland

The future came and went a long time ago at Disneyland…Tapping Monsanto for sponsorship, the House of the Future, a cantilevered miracle of space-age synthetic polymers, appeared to hover over the entrance to Tomorrowland in 1957…The youngest baby boomers were barely toddlers when the wreckers came to take the house away. Concerned that such a significant piece of design history, and of Disney history, was fading from memory, Dave Bossert set out to document its history in his new book “The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto's Vision of Tomorrow.” —Chris Nichols, Los Angeles Magazine

“From the planning stages to its demolition, David A. Bossert’s in-depth architectural history book The House of the Future covers Disneyland’s visionary model home, whose legacy lives on in the innovations that it inspired. Bossert, a longtime Disney animator and the author of various books on Disney-related subjects, works his technical expertise into his accessible coverage of the house…5 out of 5” —Meg Nola, Foreword Clarion Reviews

From the Publisher