Michael Jantzen

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Some people kneel at their bedside, others go to church. I even have a friend who prefers to send “positive ju-ju.” Whatever you call it, everyone – even nonbelievers – enacts some form of prayer. The location of that prayer is left to the discretion of the person praying, which, if you’re Michael Jantzen, is a Personal Prayer Transmission Vessel (PPTV) – at least in theory anyway. Jantzen’s PPTV is one of the strangest conceptual designs I’ve seen in a while. Each PPTV is shaped like a teepee made of white stucco and what looks like polished copper or brass. The interior includes a small, metal kneeler where you can crouch down and write your prayer using a digital notepad and a special pen. The only light source comes from the glowing notepad as well as a digital skylight, a screen overhead that plays images of blue skies and white, fluffy clouds. Oh, and I almost forgot – you’ll also hear the sound of blowing wind to help create an atmosphere conducive to prayer.

Once you write down the thoughts you want to send to your personal god, simply press the big red SEND button and your prayer is instantly transmitted out into the universe via the antenna on top. I’m not sure how that works, but maybe that’s where the ju-ju comes in? Yes, it’s a silly, impractical, energy-sucking gimmick of an idea, but if you thinks the PPTV is out there check out Jantzen’s website. It seems as though all of his work is conceptual, meaning all he does is make 3D renderings of buildings that are totally unbuildable or that no one wants to actually make. But that’s probably because he “does not consider [himself] an architect, but rather an artist and inventor who often uses architecture as an art form.” I really tried to get through his entire bio, which begins with this broad statement, “My work is very well known around the world,” but frankly I couldn’t get past his eery green Wizard of Oz bio pic.






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