Michael Jantzen's M-velope Two

While Michael Jantzen's M-velope (see below) is quite rightly attracting plenty of attention, it's his M-velope Two (pictured above) that's of more interest to Shedworking since it looks far more at home in a garden atmosphere. Made of wood, the shape can be altered according to your need, block the wind, add shade, etc.Jantzen calls the M-velope a "functional art design" and a "transformable structure" created to provide a special place in which to meditate. He explains how it works:

"The shape and interior light quality of the M-velope can be changed by folding the surface of the structure into many different combinations. Each plane of the surface of the structure is covered with panels that are subdivided in different ways. These panels are hinged to each other, and to the main support frame. Each panel can be moved and easily attached to the main support frame with pins at two locations."

Its floor area is eight feet square, and the height is about 12 feet, the whole thing built on a steel support frame with slatted panels made of our old friend sustainably grown western red cedar. Its prefab and no foundations are necessary. Via Yanko Design

Michael Jantzen's backyard office/studio

Following up yesterday's post on Michael Jantzen's M-velope Two, here is his take on the backyard office/studio which again can change shape according to your exact needs over two storeys.

Nine Tiny Feet 3D model

Michael Jantzen at the always intriguing Tiny House Design
has been using Google SketchUp to design his Nine Tiny Feet project (a nine square foot house). The finished house would include a lavatory, sink, heater, bed, chair, fold-down table, and storage. Here's what he says:

"I came up with the size by asking myself how what the absolute minimum amount of space would be needed for someone to live. I did a quick calculation in my head of the amount of space I took up while laying down and came up with nine square feet."

There is some sneaky additional space in the design via the use of attractive bay windows and accompanying cabinets/shelves plus a lofted sleeping area. Well worth a browse for more details and if it's not there already, Tiny House Design should be on your RSS feed.

R-House

Michael Jantzen has come up with some interesting shedlike atmospheres in the past and here is another, the extraordinarily eco-friendly R-House, entirely selfsufficent in terms of energy, and built using the greenest possible wood, Accoya. It's meant to be a holiday home but with some customising and a very big garden, it could be a great garden office (the structure is variable as it contains screens which can be moved around). Especially as it rotates. Marvellous.Via ecofriend where there are lots more details on its ecofriendliness as well as lots more lovely images