World's first self-sufficient luxury settlement rises in Türkiye

IZKA Construction has launched a residential project in Türkiye's western province of Izmir that it describes as the world's first fully self-sufficient luxury settlement. The development integrates on-site energy generation, water recovery and food production within a Passive House envelope designed to eliminate dependence on external infrastructure, according to the company.

Design and resilience standards

The development applies the German Passive House Institute's rigorous standard collectively for the first time in Türkiye, utilizing continuous insulation, triple glazing and airtight construction to reduce heating and cooling demand by up to 90 percent compared with conventional buildings, the company said. Carbon-fiber reinforcement inspired by aerospace engineering provides structural resilience, while an AI-supported infrastructure manages energy, water and food cycles according to residents' daily rhythms.

Food and water independence

Water management combines rainwater harvesting, groundwater control and greywater recycling to meet the settlement's needs internally. Food production relies on aquaponics systems that use 90 percent less water than conventional farming, delivering 800 kilograms of vegetables, 500 kilograms of fruit and 75 kilograms each of fish and shrimp annually to each household without pesticides. "The luxury of the future is not bigger houses or precious materials," said Payiz Yesil, architect and director of sustainability at IZKA Construction. "True luxury is being able to sustain yourself without depending on anyone: power that stays on, water you can trust, and healthy food you grow yourself."

Vision for planetary living

The One Planet Habitat Board described the project as "The Settlement of a New Civilization," stating that the model emerging from six years of research could scale from villas to towns and cities. "Humanity is searching for ways to build a self-sufficient life on the Moon and on Mars," the board said in a written statement. "We wanted to answer that question for our own planet first. The future of humanity does not have to begin on another world; the future can be built on Earth, today." The founder's entire share of income will fund a foundation supporting scientific research and nature protection, with applications for the limited number of villas opening on Aug. 17, 2026.