Presented at the 2016 Venice Architecture Bienalle, these new communities are designed to be entirely self-reliant, recycling their own waste, generating their own energy and producing their own food. Urban, suburban and rural strategies are combined in fresh ways that could lead to a new paradigm for sustainable living.

Dubbed ReGen by its creators at EFFEKT, this new self-sustaining community typology grew out of a Stanford University Paper. Thanks to the backing of entrepreneurs, the first pilot is set to launch in The Netherlands this summer with others coming soon to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and planned for China and Africa.

Each village features combinations of homes, greenhouses and public buildings, interconnecting vertical farming efforts with everyday living. Like a dome-free version of some retrofuturistic 1960s vision, the idea is that each village unit is effectively self-contained, able to thrive off the grid without polluting or depending on outside resources.

Unlike other Utopian schemes, however, a great deal of design, science, engineering and money is going into making these work. The housing and community layouts reflect new urbanist sensibilities (such as walkability and density) as well as ruralist traditions (agriculture and access to nature).

Integrated solar power systems provide energy for heating, cooling and electric cars. Community participants share responsibility for water and waste management systems. Fruits and vegetable are grown individually as well as communally. Various housing types are offered, each with adaptable modularity designed around seasonal energy savings and human comfort factors.

“Our modern lifestyle is utterly unsustainable and this calls for more resilient solutions for the future,” explained EFFEKT partner Sinus Lynge. “The technology already exists, it is just a matter of applying science into the architecture of everyday life. ReGen Villages is engineering and facilitating the development of off-grid, integrated and resilient neighbourhoods that power and feed self-reliant families around the world. The time has come to redefine residential real-estate development for the next three billion people coming to the planet.”

With stylistic nods to classic rounded Airstream trailers, this next-generation mobile pod dwelling is powered by solar and wind energy and provides drinkable water by recycling and filtering the rain.

Designed by Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule shelter is intended to accommodate two people, providing basic necessities and bonus amenities including a fold-out bed, living and dining space, cozy kitchenette, working shower and flush toilet.

A 750-watt wind turbine attaches to the exterior and the roof is clad in a series of built-in solar cells providing multiple means of generating energy for the home. Power can be stored in an onboard battery with close to a 10,000 watt-hour capacity.

The entire structure is road-worthy as well: just under 15 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall and weighing a bit over 3,000 pounds. It can be fit into a standard-sized shipping container or towed behind a vehicle. Currently in a prototype phase, the company plans to put these units on the market within the next year.

Its makers envision a great variety of potential uses: “Ecocapsule is a portable house offering an unmatched dwelling experience. With its immense off-grid life span, worldwide portability and flexibility it is suitable for a wide range of applications: from an independent research station or a tourist lodge to an emergency housing or a humanitarian-action unit.”

Forget the trailer and start trailblazing – this emission-free and fully-electric vehicle can juice up just like its Tesla cousins, but can also use photovoltaics and solar sails to recharge well off the beaten path.

Picture the three-wheeled Ecco as the latest in a long-standing series of streamlined and transforming vehicles for dwelling  in, starting with Dymaxion and continuing to Airstream and through Volkswagen. Except, for the first time, conventional fuel is not required.

A light aluminum-and-class frame unfolds, stretching fabric into place and expanding the living space when stationary. This action also allows the driver to tilt up the sun-gathering elements for maximum charging capabilities.