Biophilic Living by Hacer Developments

About Biophilic Living

Hacer Developments is committed to the construction of a unique Biophilic space in the City of Swansea; a mixed-use development incorporating residential apartments, with an emphasis on the social housing sector, commercial office and retail spaces to rent, education and exhibition opportunities, community gardens on the roof, and a large scale glasshouse, alongside green-systems being integrated into the entire building.
BioLiv_Logo - Lucy Ralph

Mission Statement/ Values

The Biophilic Living project represents a radical new approach to living and working in the urban environment. Founded on Biophilic theory, the project is about enabling humans to reconnect with nature, creating a cohesive community to address the increasing issues relating to social exclusion and loneliness, as well as responding to the climate emergency with innovative technology; Putting nature at the heart of the city. 

With community being the focus, collaboration is key, we are working with local housing association Pobl for the residential sector, Urban Foundry for the retail sector, gained research assistance from Swansea and Cardiff University, alongside offering UWTSD students the opportunity to produce artwork for the building and contribute to interior design considerations. We are working on engaging with local horticulture students to offer the green spaces as a sort of classroom, with part of the commercial area potentially becoming a biomaterial lab. We want to ensure this building is a place for the community, and enhances the local area.

east elevation - Lucy Ralph
heat pumps graphic - Lucy Ralph
CGI of Biophilic Living Swansea - Aerial View - Lucy Ralph

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Origin Story

Founders Names

Carwyn Davies

How It All Began

Having always known a building is nothing without the people who occupy it, Hacer Developments is driven to create buildings for the community, and with the growing responsibility to consider the environment in everything we do, Carwyn began thinking about the function of green walls. However, following a conversation with friend Geoffrey Proffit of Swansea University, Carwyn was introduced to the concept of Biophilic theory, and the ambitions for the project skyrocketed.

Challenges Overcome

The project is a first for Wales and the UK, as well as being a first for our team, so there has been lots of learning involved. The development of innovation is one that is time and resource intensive, funding for these sorts of projects is lacking, which is frustrating when these developments and actions are needed to protect the future of people and planet.

What Drives Your Passion

Urban areas account for more than 54% of the world’s population producing 40% of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, consequently it is here that the greatest GHG reductions can be delivered. Biophilic theory, underpinning new and retrofit developments is a powerful method of addressing these problems. Inefficient, industrial housing stock and disconnected communities is a legacy of many post industrialised urban regions, inevitably leading to poor health outcomes with resultant social inequalities, this combination is closely correlated with a lack of access to material and financial resources and services. This project addresses such health and societal inequalities bringing green, naturel, living and working space into the centre of Swansea City, revitalising community and improving the health and wellbeing of residents and other occupants. It will also impact upon areas and communities not directly associated with the development, as this Biophilic building (village) will set a tone and standard for the future regeneration of the Urban landscape of Swansea City and the South Wales post-industrial region.

What Sets Your Business Apart

The Biophilic Living development will clearly be an inspirational building; for the people who will live and work there, but it is much more than just an exciting home and workplace. The building will be riven through with cutting edge biological, design and engineering innovations, it will be a living working example of great design, innovation and existing technology, combining to support and nurture human health and wellbeing. In the heart of a city, it will be an oasis of green, gardens, trees and food.

Biggest Accomplishments or Milestones

Becoming a Clinton Global Initiative commitment, attending the event in New York, and Carwyn delivering the talk about the project on the stage. The CGI offered us a unique opportunity to present our commitment to a global audience, providing visibility and networking opportunities for our unique concept.

Looking Ahead

This is the first part of a larger commitment to deliver change and regeneration to our urban environments. Utilizing low carbon energy systems, the project envisions a delivery model that seeks to maximize efficiency and assist in reducing fuel poverty. Using this first model, there will be subsequent data gathering and the dissemination of what is possible for scaling a project such as this. From the development of digitized Systems Models of future projects, to the delivery of physical projects, Biophilic Living will detail how we might forge sustainable healthy cities. We want to acquire more pre-existing, derelict buildings and transform them, to transform cities and communities, nationally and globally. We are due for completion on this build June 2025.

Looking Ahead

Do it for the people!

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