In 1971, Michael Jantzen was awarded a BS degree with a major in fine arts from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Illinois. In 1973, he received an MFA degree with a major in Multi-media from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
While in school, Jantzen's work began to gain notoriety through gallery shows, which generated articles in various national magazines and newspapers. During this time he became increasingly interested in architecture and began to explore different approaches to design. This led him through the construction of several small experimental hand-built houses and other structures.
Jantzen's work continued to gain national attention as he began to explore the possibilities of utilizing alternative energy systems in architecture.
In 1998 he developed several digital media projects that were published widely around the world. He created a conceptual house called the Malibu Video Beach House and, Elements, an interactive digital media theme park for the next millennium.
Early in 1999, he began to design and build the M-House project, a modular, relocatable, environmentally responsive, alternative housing system.
In 2001, Jantzen founded the Human Shelter Research Institute, a non profit organization dedicated to the development of alternative human shelter systems.
Jantzen is continually creating projects that enable him to explore his personal interests in avant-garde art, architecture and design.
Michael Jantzen
February 3, 2003
