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Urbaneer Living

We enable placemakers to create wellness-focused living experiences. After returning to the U.S.

Our Story

In 1998 URBANEER founders Bruce & Brenda Thompson moved to Europe, where their perspective of the home and urban living shifted drastically. In Munich, they were introduced to compact living and portable kitchens; in Barcelona, they experienced a compact, walkable and community rich urban living experience for the first time; and in Germany they saw how compact luxury automobiles were r

e-imagined, not just downsized versions of their larger counterparts
Inspired, Bruce and Brenda began thinking about how living spaces could be impacted by technology, urban migration, and social trends. they realized that the last century has been characterized by addition: larger homes, faster cars, and more stuff. They saw that it had yielded many fruits, but it had also created a culture and economy that values growth for growth’s sake. Today, we are in an era of increasing urban density, shrinking living spaces, and a stagnant construction industry. We are also in an exciting era of innovation that has the potential to radically transform how and where we live. URBANEER wants to help people realize the New American Dream, where growth promotes happy, responsible, meaningful lives. In this dream, the homes that we build and the products we produce are designed to improve lives and the planet, not merely bottom lines. In this dream, technology and innovation allow people to use less, thereby simplifying their lives and cutting down their environmental footprints, while improving the quality of their lives.

08/12/2025

Advances in longevity science are shifting the conversation from lifespan to healthspan—the years we live in good health.

To fully realize these benefits, our living environments must keep pace. Tech-enabled age-in-place housing can create consistent, supportive spaces that safeguard health, reduce injury risks, and promote independence—helping people not just live longer, but live better.

Urbaneer is bringing together these pieces to deliver a unique and valuable product to builders and developers nationwide. We then monitor the impact of these products by bringing together all the different data points and measurements of each space.

Our ongoing work with healthcare professionals will establish a system around qualifying and verifying the spaces we design. The end result is a measurable impact on longevity by taking a full spectrum approach to wellness indoors.

08/04/2025

We’re evolving our interview formats to include snapshots of people’s experiences for a more casual take on their background and relationship with retirement. Our first segment features Frank Swinehart, a recent Traverse City transplant who moved from Ohio after decades in the corporate world.

Frank is a great example of someone who wanted to step back but not step away from work, and certainly not step away from engagement with the world around him.

He is a natural social butterfly and connector who quickly found his community after moving up North, and is a fantastic addition to the area. We’re so grateful that he took the time to share his Third Chapter story with us and agreed to be the first interviewee for this new series.

Link in Bio!

07/30/2024

Urbaneer living spaces stand out as the optimal platform for wellness real estate experiences due to their thoughtfully designed small footprint, cohesive nature, and innovative productized approach. These features ensure that each unit is easy to manage, refine, and control, allowing residents to enjoy a meticulously curated environment that promotes health and well-being.

The compact design maximizes efficiency and functionality, while the cohesive layout fosters a sense of harmony and balance. Urbaneer's productized approach ensures consistency and quality across all units, making it easier to implement and maintain wellness-focused amenities and features.

07/25/2024

We intentionally design our spaces with a focus on experiences, but the mission of Urbaneer extends beyond the home. Our goal is to create living spaces that encourage people to engage with the world around them while promoting their health and well-being.

We believe that a home should be more than just a place to live; it should be a sanctuary that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. By fostering environments that prioritize both wellness and functionality, we aim to enable our residents to lead active and fulfilling lives. Our designs incorporate elements that support physical health, enable activity, and create a connection to the outdoors, all of which are essential for humans to flourish. Through thoughtful design and the accommodation of human experiences, Urbaneer strives to enhance the quality of life for all who inhabit our spaces.

06/25/2024

With the finalization of our new three-bedroom model, we wanted to take the time to highlight Urbaneer's key design features. Our new living space embodies Urbaneer's commitment to timeless design, abundant light, and homes that live larger than their footprint.

These design principles serve to elevate the occupant experience. Urbaneer homes are designed to enhance everyday living and establish a sense of connection to the spaces we occupy.

This model combines two of our living space designs to create a highly functional and versatile home for a diverse group of occupants.

06/20/2024

Living spaces are commonly conceived with a focus on static design principles rather than dynamic adaptability. This static approach often results in environments that do not effectively cater to the evolving needs and experiences of their occupants. The root of this issue lies in the neglect of human experience within the spatial design process.

Static designs may overlook the human factors that contribute to comfort and well-being. Factors such as natural light, ventilation, acoustics, and ergonomic considerations are crucial for creating spaces that truly nurture and support their occupants. When these aspects are not adequately addressed, occupants may experience discomfort, stress, or dissatisfaction within their living environment.

In contrast, a dynamic approach to design considers the fluidity of human experiences and behaviors over time. This involves creating spaces that can adapt to different needs and activities, fostering a sense of responsiveness and usability. Urbaneer creates living spaces that supply the desired feelings of health, comfort, and safety to create increased livability to occupants.

Healthy: Air Quality & Water Quality

Comfortable: Smart Climate Control & Human-Centric Design

Safe: Home Safety & Wellness Monitoring

06/11/2024

A sense of place is not merely a pleasant idea or a feel-good trend; it serves as a significant indicator of an individual's well-being in relation to their environment. Although many aspects of this phenomenon are intangible, it is indeed measurable.

The activities we engage in, the settings we occupy, and the meaning we derive from our daily lives profoundly impact our quality of life. Recognizing this, builders, developers, and placemakers have a unique opportunity to enhance individuals' lives by designing environments that meet genuine needs.

According to The Global Wellness Institute in 2024, the top ten builders account for half of the new residential housing in the US market. This concentration has led to an overproduction of large, low-quality homes and market prices that most people cannot afford. The resulting pricing rigidity has negatively impacted every facet of real estate. Communities are not monolithic entities that can be contracted out to a single developer; they require collaboration from a diverse array of stakeholders to thrive.

Establishing walkable neighborhoods, small attainable living spaces, and providing assets, not just amenities, are essential steps towards developing communities where people can truly live, rather than merely exist. A sense of place functions as a renewable resource that every community member can draw upon, provided it is carefully nurtured.

06/06/2024

Since the earliest forms of human society, there have been different stages of life that reflect both social and ecological needs within our species. For much of our history, these stages have remained vastly similar. The early part of life is exploration and then comes optimization, and lastly is the sharing of the knowledge that comes from that optimization.

It is the third part of life for which Urbaneer has recognized a growing desire for change. Post-Industrial Revolution, the model became centered around senior living communities. You had put your time in, and now it was time to relax. People still want to slow down but don't want to check out. Increasingly, people seek knowledge and meaning while looking to share their knowledge and create meaning for others.

Many of these people will age in place because they are still active and working. While some desire and can afford the big house and all that comes with it, many do not and cannot. The problem is that there is nowhere for many of these people to go. They don't want a traditional retirement but cannot find a small attainable home in order to downsize.

These people neither want to maintain a big complex life nor desire to be isolated and bored.

The opportunity we see in Third Chapter Curious is creating a living experience where people can simplify their lives while keeping themselves deeply connected and engaged with their world. To make this happen, we have to keep people within communities. Building diversified housing with a placemaking mentality creates interaction between and within generations. The desired outcome requires placemakers to put more emphasis on experiences, and Urbaneer is committed to being a part of that effort.

06/04/2024

As we prepare to launch the next five interviews for "Third Chapter Curious" in Northern Michigan, we wanted to give some insight into our goals with Third Chapter Curious more broadly.

Our vision is to create an environment where residents and visitors can benefit from programming that supports the mind, body and spirit in a community setting. Urbaneer has been developing a series of partnerships that range from education and healthcare to homecare services, that will create the foundation for our first Third Chapter community in NW Michigan.

This project will include Urbaneer compact homes that support healthy aging through technology enabled care for residents. We are currently evaluating several locations that would provide access to natural amenities and the best of "Up North Michigan" as Michiganders refer to the area.

Now that our Third Chapter Curious readership has reached over 2,000 subscribers, we would love to hear from you (regardless of where you live).

Tell us what you think is important when making a decision to live or visit one of our communities. Please comment below or direct message me to share your thoughts.

05/21/2024

Walkability is much more than a convenience. It is a means of being connected with your community, and maintaining your independence as you age.

I watched my grandparents go out less and less due to their lack of walkability, and I saw it negatively affect their healthspan.

They lived long lives, but the last part of their lives were not as lively and vibrant as it could have been. I believe people in small communities and in other developed countries fare far better in this stage of life than many Americans. The connection and activity they experience aids in keeping them healthy.

As developers, builders and placemakers we need to consider the broader community experience when we create housing.

05/16/2024

Data is powerful, but personal accounts and first-hand experiences are priceless. While we had access to big data, we weren't sure how people would respond to 'Third Chapter Curious.'

Since the series went live, countless people have reached out to share how these stories resonate with them. Our readers express a desire for a third chapter, where they can continue to add value to the world. The beautiful thing is that many of these individuals are pursuing efforts quite different from their previous career focus.

The Third Chapter allows for reinvention, both professionally and personally. This stage of life, once earmarked for isolation, should be a time of deep engagement. The experiences we carry as we age are precious assets to our society, and they must be nurtured and shared.

We hope these stories have served as a catalyst for some and we are truly thankful for those who participated in this first round of interviews.

The next five interviews will be released starting in June. Stay tuned!

05/14/2024

Entering her "third chapter" at 67, Margaret Bending embarked on an exhilarating new journey in performance after a career in rocket science and homeschooling.

Joining The Performance Ensemble, she debuted at 70, and now at 71, she's showcased her one-woman show and leads community outreach programs, smashing stereotypes about aging.

Bending's story is a powerful reminder that the later part of life is your story to write, full of unexpected twists and exciting new beginnings.

Address

801 S Garfield Avenue PMB 180
Traverse City, MI
49686

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.urbaneerliving.com/, https://linktr.ee/urbaneer_living

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