Community Topographies
Branded communities are the latest chapter in the narrative of the ideal or utopian city. They are also the outcome of a changing relationship between identity and community. Community is a reflexive concept: just as identity is a product of community, communities are a product of identity. Supported by the changing role of location, we are more enabled (and therefore perhaps more inclined) to choose our communities from the standpoint of how they might complement or contribute to our sense of self.
Identity goes beyond brand: the character of a community is largely determined by its plan. This visualization of 12 new communities around the world seeks to address the question: How is identity expressed in the design of the branded communities appearing in or adjacent to cities around the world?