M-house by Michael Jantzen
Michael Jantzen, a former student of ecological design pioneer R. Buckminster Fuller, recently revealed the M-house, an extreme example of design that aims to further advance carbon-neutral, sustainable architecture. The M-house is supported structurally by an open space frame grid upon which standardized panels are affixed. The space frame rests upon minimally intrusive concrete footing pads, and given the proper conditions, can stand with no foundation whatsoever. The space frame is enclosed with a series of standardized panels. In this example, the panels are painted, concrete composite pieces that are infinitely repositionable according to site and climate. Some pieces are solid, some are cut for ventilation, and some have glass inserts. Jantzen asserts that the panels in this initial model are for demonstration purposes, and could be potentially replaced with any number of different materials or shapes, dependent upon the context.
Primarily, Jantzen envisions the M-house as a system of ecological design that can be easily adapted to any site. Whether standing alone or in a group, it is another step towards self sufficient housing that he’s been working on since studying with Fuller in the 1970’s. Though it’s a long way from the dome-based dwellings he began with, the radical, angular shape is sure to attract attention from anyone remotely interested in design.
More images after the jump.
