Yannell Conservation Habitat
Long-time client, Dr. Michael Yannell, bears an enthusiastic passion for breaking barriers and love for the environment—with a LEED Platinum Net-Zero Energy home and a Phius Single Family Home retrofit, both first of their kind in the Midwest, as well as a LEED Platinum Net-Zero nonprofit no-kill cat shelter.
Yannell approached Nurture in 2021 for his final passion project and greatest challenge to date; a regenerative communal retirement home, located north of South Haven, along the shores of Lake Michigan. After a six-month feasibility study, the design team composed of national experts in innovative sustainable design determined that this project would demonstrate a harmonization of technical rigor and holistic, regenerative design that is fully self-sustainable.
The 14-acre site sits atop 80-foot sand and clay bluff, one that will continue to erode without respectful intervention. Rather than introduce a human-made revetment that would eventually give way, the team determined that Lake Michigan was the guiding force for decisions, to allow her to flux as needed with a rapidly changing climate.
A place built to last 100 years, the home and totality of the support infrastructure was shifted 200 feet inland, nestled within openings of the existing wetlands and associated endangered species, to be cleared of invasives, so that each protected, improved habitat is allowed to evolve naturally and thrive. By reintroducing native planting systems, along with 10% of the site area dedicated to urban agriculture for localized food production, the project supports pollinators, migratory bat and bird populations, and stimulated, healthier biodiversity.
Performance is addressed through LBC’s Energy Petal, which requires a net-positive all-electric approach. Phius WUFI energy modeling was the analytical backbone to reduce EUI well below residential baselines. Key metrics include heating/cooling demand reductions through an airtight, super insulated envelope, peak load minimization to reduce system sizing and annual energy balance aligned with 110% on-site renewable generation. The 70kW solar photovoltaic arrays, along with 3 4kW wind turbines plug in to 4 batteries with 3-days emergency storage.
This net-zero water project treats every drop of water as sacred, with conscious care from sky to earth. Rainwater is collected and stored in a 10,000-gallon cistern, tied to a greywater reuse system for toilets, laundry, irrigation, and water features. Blackwater is treated through a constructed wetland, providing site beautification, life for plants and animals, and relief from municipal dependence. Solar thermal panels reduce energy for hot water and chemical-free pool, tapping into the successful lobbying effort for the first-of-its-kind recirculating shower system in Michigan.
Health and happiness are paramount, with balance energy-recovery ventilation and high efficiency filtration for continuous fresh air, optimized daylighting and natural ventilation, and smart controls to maintain thermal comfort. Universal design principles were implemented in every space, to support inclusivity and aging in place. The connection to nature is constant with beautiful views, indoor/outdoor connections, and a material palette that is inspired by its regional context. Every product installed was vetted to 100ppm to be Red-List free, advocating for material transparency and chemical removal. The use of salvaged, reclaimed, regional, ethically sourced, durable materials help reduce embodied carbon and lifecycle impacts, supporting circular economy and waste reduction principles.
The ambition of this project is rooted in performance metrics to create a sophisticated ecosystem where energy, water, materials, and human experience are all interconnected. Climate change is at the forefront of every design decision, resulting in a self-sustaining habitat for people, plants, and animals that promotes resiliency and regeneration. Naming the project a “conservation habitat” is intentional, to demonstrate that resilient solutions for restoration, conserving and harnessing the power of resources, protecting our freshwater, and living harmoniously in unison with all species is essential in any context. The Yannell Conservation Habitat aims to be an exemplar of harnessing these principles and inspire a new belief system for how we responsibly build for future generations.