Self-sufficiency in Panzano Dwellings: A Replicable Model for Environmental, Social, and Economic Sustainability

The evolution of self-sufficient living offers significant opportunities for environmental, social, and economic sustainability through innovative residential strategies. Domestic self-sufficiency depends heavily on the optimization of household spaces and the integration of resource management technologies. Within this context, relevant experiences address bioclimatic greenhouses integrated into façades and high-performance building envelopes, which improve internal microclimates while substantially reducing energy consumption. Water resource management constitutes another crucial challenge: rainwater harvesting and reuse systems are successfully implemented across European eco-communities, where soilless cultivation techniques enable food self-production for resilient housing. Urban regulations play a decisive role in enabling these strategies, incentivizing the redevelopment of the existing building stock. The Panzano District, in northeastern Italy, serves as a compelling case study adopting an interdisciplinary approach. Historically linked to the Monfalcone Shipyard, the District features worker housing originally designed for efficiency and social functionality. Here, the adoption of passive architectural systems and advanced technologies can reduce the exploitation of raw resources while improving quality of life through reproducible solutions. Thus, self-sufficient living requires both cultural and social transformation, as demonstrated by European examples illustrate how resource and knowledge sharing strengthens community bonds while improving collective well-being. The Panzano case demonstrates that domestic self-sufficiency represents a challenge encompassing architecture, technology, regulation, and society, offering replicable models for sustainable and resilient living.