The council has said the construction of this new \u201cliving building\u201d is set to be complete by the end of summer this year. Powered by solar energy and a \u201cair source heat system\u201d the building is touted to consume five times less energy than a building which is powered by gas boilers. To be built at the former Woolworths site in Swansea, the construction work for this new \u201cBiophilic\u201d building in the city appears to already be well underway in newly released visuals.<\/p>\n
Set next to a new 13-storey tower, the new building will be located between Oxford Street and The Kingsway and the scheme is being led by Swansea-based Hacer Developments.<\/p>\n
![\"Workers](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_Shaurya-Shaurya.jpg\")
The new building is set to be 12 storeys high(Image: Hacer Developments)<\/p>\n
This \u201cliving building\u201d scheme is being funded by a combination of private sector funding, money from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, Pobl and the Development Bank of Wales. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here<\/a><\/p>\n At the start of this year, we took a look inside the 12-storey tower as it was being built. To read more about that, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n The company behind the scheme describes Biophilia as \u201cour affinity, as human beings, to the natural world.\u201d<\/p>\n It said: \u201cThe Biophilic Living project incorporates this into the building’s design and development, allowing the community to reconnect with nature, in an urban environment.\u201d<\/p>\n The Biophilic building is the first to be built under the project and is set to include an urban-style greenhouse set over four floors, an education facility featuring an aquaponic system, rooftop gardens, wildflower borders and green spaces, nine floors of apartments to be managed by Pobl, close to 32,000 square feet of commercial floor space for businesses, retail spaces, a landscaped courtyard, and a bio-solar roof with ambient loop heating and sustainable drainage systems<\/p>\n Once complete, the council claims the building will have the capacity to accommodate up to 500 people and create jobs and homes.<\/p>\n A video released by the council shows work underway on the building as it is nestled within Swansea\u2019s city centre, overlooking much of the area around it.<\/p>\n You can also see a series of solar panels on its roof along with the \u201cair source heat system\u201d that will power the building once it’s complete.<\/p>\n It also offers stunning views over the city and Swansea bay that occupants of some of its 50 \u201cmodern flats\u201d will enjoy, once people start moving into the building.<\/p>\n The company behind the project has said that the new building will connect \u201cresidents and workers to nature.\u201d<\/p>\n Carwyn Davies, managing director of Hacer Developments, said: \u201cThese are unprecedented times for Swansea city centre with so much funding being invested by the council, the Welsh Government<\/a> and the private sector.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is important because city centres now need more people living and working there to create the numbers needed to support city centre businesses and encourage more shops and other businesses to open up in future.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cOur scheme is aimed at creating a new way of urban working and living – one that connects residents and workers to nature. This has been proven to benefit health and happiness.<\/p>\n \u201cThe building will also be powered in a renewable way that will help cut Swansea\u2019s carbon footprint and fight climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n The scheme is part of a \u00a31bn regeneration scheme that has seen several buildings across the Swansea city centre being transformed.<\/p>\n In September 2024, the historic Albert Hall was unveiled after a major revamp costing nearly \u00a39m<\/a> boasting a food hall and bar, with private entertainment space, offices, studios, visitor accommodation, a gym and a rooftop garden above.<\/p>\n![\"Urban](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745947930_527_0_Shaurya-Shaurya.jpg\")
It will feature an “urban greenhouse”(Image: Hacer Developments)<\/p>\n![\"Hacer](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745947931_46_1_Shaurya-Shaurya.jpg\")
Swansea-based Hacer Developments is leading the delivery of the scheme(Image: Hacer Developments)<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745947932_166_1_Shaurya-Shaurya.jpg\")
The construction is set to be completed this summer(Image: Hacer Developments)<\/p>\n