Challenging the eco-city: residents’ perceptions of social sustainability in Tianjin Eco-City, China

Abstract

This chapter discusses the case for 'humanizing' new-build urban mega-projects such as eco-cities by focusing on urban social sustainability, and on the experiences of new residents in newly-built cities such as Tianjin eco-city. It focuses on the eco-city as an economic space of both production and consumption. The chapter explores the ways in which the eco-city's residents experienced their move into a new-build urban environment, and the obstacles, frictions and positive possibilities present therein. One of the highly advertised and marketed features of Tianjin eco-city is the provision of 'green' domestic spaces for the new residents of the city. Jane Jacobs' work is useful because of its focus on moving past the plans, blueprints and rational urban visions proposed by master planners, engineers and architects, and towards valuing the role of the rather messier relationality found in the everyday city.