Farm to Form is a multigenerational straw-insulated housing development located in Port Austin, Michigan. As the permanent population of Port Austin ages, there is a need for housing where older residents can live in closer proximity to their families. SHD proposes a mixed-use micro-village to create housing for multigenerational living, expand access to local produce, and establish a dense, walkable living zone. The site, which currently contains an abandoned school,  is located on M-53 just over a half mile outside downtown Port Austin. In addition to housing, the proposed site program includes a farm, tea house, flexible small business space, daycare, gym, and indoor pool. The northwest corner of the property will feature an art barn, offering space for the region’s ongoing public art and place-making projects. This project includes 45 total units and can house up to 206 people. 

Four repeated building clusters are organized across the site to create smaller collective clusters. The formal logic of these clusters was developed from combinations of 36’ x 36’ squares paired at 15 and 45 degree angles. Each cluster block has shared entrances on the courtyard, in addition to amenities such as access to walking paths, bike storage, shared outdoor space, and collective solar energy production through photovoltaics. There are two main unit types: ground-level ADA accessible units and multi-story split level units designed to support various family or roommate configurations. These are subdivided in a total of 9 unit types ranging from studio to 4 bedrooms. 

All buildings on the site are built using SIPS construction with straw bale insulation. Straw is a highly effective insulator and widely available in northern Michigan as an inexpensive farming waste byproduct. Straw SIPS panels for the project will be fabricated from structural lumber and locally sourced compressed straw. Though the straw panels increase the size of the wall assembly, the window openings in these thick walls allow for additional spatial opportunities. Residents can occupy these apertures for seating, tables, and storage. Due to the insulating properties of the straw, the energy load for these buildings is quite low, requiring no mechanical cooling and minimal energy for heating.