24 creation of a cohesive community to tackle issues of social exclusion and loneliness in an innovative way .
The project will allow residents to help run an urban farm as a social enterprise , with home grown produce consumed and sold locally . Biophilic Living is founded on research that reconnecting with nature is essential to our well-being , and that there are positive community and health outcomes from living more closely with the natural world .
This project by Hacer Developments has been designed by Powell Dobson Architects in Swansea . The concept is the result of extensive collaborative working among a range of local organisations , including Swansea University , the Active Building Centre , Public Health Wales , Swansea Community Farm and Sero Homes Ltd .
Works are progressing as planned on the scheme with the super structure due to finish and work on the cladding facade / internal trades due to begin .
The building will deliver stunning views as it sits just over 57 meters above Ordnance Datum .
The project ’ s aim is to provide sustainable city living by means of a cooperative shared ownership model through the built form with the creation of a community interested company ( CIC ) and giving access to food , social care , leaning facilities and resources , amenity spaces on the roof tops and a healthy lifestyle encouraging active travelling .
Biophilic Living Swansea brings a whole eco-system around a community , offering relief from energy poverty by providing access to clean renewable energy while reducing hunger and social isolation . This means not only a reducing in use of carbon intensive energy , but sequestration through green spaces . It will become the heart and lungs of the city centre and hopefully a standard of building for the future .
The development is due to complete in the last quarter of 2024 , meaning people can look forward to seeing the living building come alive with the rooftop gardens , green walls , and the 14m green house , which will be nearly 30 meters off the ground .
Main Contractor , Helix 21 , are working with local companies to create a unique retail space for the ground floor where local products will be sold along with products grown in the building ’ s green house . There will be some three floors of fantastic commercial space .
The Company are committed to making this building model work and once the building is finished , will remain involved for five years to make sure the CIC group proves successful – proving that the future is Biophilic Design .
Working with client , POBL Group , the building will also offer 50 brand new apartments with innovation flowing throughout . This includes the ‘ ambient loop ’ - a communal thermal heat source / sink network accessed by the different building users . Each space connects to the shared