Popular press framing of sustainable communities: vibrant, innovative, ecological, and resilient

Abstract

The recent diffusion of urban sustainability concepts has led new developer-driven master-planned models of sustainable neighborhoods to emerge around the world. These communities no longer aim at early adopters but seek to mainstream sustainability in the residential market. The popular press has been influential in portraying this model to the public as the future of urbanism. By analyzing popular press portrayals of master-planned neighborhoods with self-articulated sustainability goals in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, this paper asks which values and design features are emphasized and which frames are associated with such values. Through qualitative textual analysis, we find that coverage of these developments emphasizes their convenience and economic savings while downplaying sustainability narratives related to changes in lifestyle, affordability, climate change, and inclusion. Media coverage emphasizes four framings of such communities: vibrant, innovative, ecological, and resilient. The press often represents such projects as utopian and ignores issues related to performance and management. As a consequence, the sustainable neighborhood imaginary loses aspects of its social and environmental agenda.