The Jantzen Studio was formed by Michael Jantzen, who for 35 years has been exploring the leading edge of art, design, and architecture. It is Michael’s hope to engage clients who share his passion to live among extraordinary artifacts and ideas.

Home-Scape™ is a conceptual design study for the development of a new kind of modular manufactured housing system. The basic structural components of the system are designed to be assembled in a manufacturing facility. These components would then be transported to the construction site in the same manner as a conventional mobile home or doublewide house. In the case of multi level structures, the various levels would be transported separately and stacked together at the construction site.

There are many different ways in which to build the basic structural components. One of the most attractive solutions may be to fabricate the walls, floors, and roof from structural stressed skinned foam panels. This approach not only would make the buildings very energy efficient and strong, but it would also make the construction of the curved walls relatively easy to fabricate. After the basic shell is assembled the walls can be covered with many types of cladding including types that could be removed periodically in ordered to change out the color, texture, etc.

The curved roofs were designed to be covered with a solid continuous roofing membrane material. The individual segments of the building system would be put together with bolts that compress gaskets for waterproofing. The individual transportable structures would vary in length and width, but because of highway restrictions, the width would not exceed fourteen feet. When these structures are bolted together, however, cutting large curved openings in the walls where they are joined together can create large interior spaces. In this way, structures of almost any size could be erected. If larger width spaces were needed, more fabrication would have to be done at the construction site. The Home-Scape™ system can be designed to be as energy self-sufficient as is needed.

One of the most important design aspects of the system is the pleasing organic esthetic, which can be assembled and or disassembled in many different ways. This organic esthetic becomes especially desirable, when large clusters of the structures are placed together to form communities. Because of the organic nature of the structures, it would be easy and very attractive to integrate vegetation directly into the landscape around the Home-Scape™.

Relocatable M-vironments are made of a wide variety of manipulatable components that can be connected in many different ways to a matrix of modular support frames. The frames can be assembled and disassembled in different ways to accommodate a wide range of changing needs. The M-house, which is made from the M-vironment system, consists of a series of rectangular panels that are attached with hinges to an open space frame grid of seven interlocking cubes. The panels are hinged to the cubes in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation. The hinges allow the panels to fold into, or out of the cube frames to perform various functions. Some of the panels are insulated and contain windows and doors. These panels can completely enclose spaces that are heated and cooled. Other uninsulated panels fold in or out over and around open platforms to shade the sun, deflect the rain, or block the wind. Some of these unfold from the face of the cubes to become places to sit, places to sleep, places to work, or places to eat. Most of the slotted panels are oriented over and around these open platforms. The platforms and the cube frames, are supported by adjustable legs which are attached to load bearing foot pads. In many cases the support frames do not require a foundation, and they can be adjusted to accommodate terrain variations. All of the M-house components are interchangeable, and can be increased or decreased in numbers and size. The panels can be made in a curved configuration and from many different types of materials. The existing M-house panels are assembled with a steel structural frame that supports thin sheets of a concrete composite. All of the exposed surfaces of the structure are painted. This M-house was designed to function as a single private vacation retreat, or in multiple numbers and configurations, as a complete stand alone high tech resort complex. The house can be designed to be self sufficient, powered by alternative energy sources such as the sun and the wind. The M-vironments were developed to accommodate a wide range of markets. With different sizes, shapes, materials, and panel types, the system can be used for exhibit structures, pavilions, play environments for kids, retail spaces, office modules, and many other commercial applications.