Latent sprawl, divided Mediterranean landscapes: urban growth, swimming pools, and the socio-spatial structure of Athens, Greece

Abstract

Although Mediterranean cities have inherent differences on a local scale, together they offer a kaleidoscopic overview of distinctive morphologies and patterns of socio-spatial segregation. In this study, we explore the distribution of residential swimming pools as indicators of the use of land and water at the metropolitan scale, in relation to recent changes in the socio-spatial structure of a large Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece). Our results indicate a polarized spatial distribution of swimming pools, still considered a luxury affordable only for a minor segment of the Greek population. The analysis highlights the spatial linkages between concentration of residential pools, class segregation and low-density settlements, indicating that the socio-spatial structure of Athens remains characterized by persistent disparities between rich and poor neighborhoods. Comparison with another Mediterranean city (Barcelona) demonstrates the peculiarity of Athens' recent development as reflected in the fragmented and polarized urban structure. The study provides an alternative reading of recent Mediterranean urban growth by considering pools as a "landmark" for urban sprawl, producing contested landscapes of localized social segregation.

Detection and Simulation of Urban Expansion and Socioeconomic Segregation in the Greater Paramaribo Region, Suriname

“…These studies, however, obtained the images directly from the provider and not freely from Google Earth © . A study by Salvati et al () used high‐resolution Google Earth © imagery to analyse the correlation between identified pools and class segregation. Other studies visually interpreted Google Earth © to identify and delineate slums (Gunter 2009; Krishna et al ; Marghany & van Genderen ).…”

Towards Local Forms of Sprawl: A Brief Reflection on Mediterranean Urbanization

“…Some classifications of the most relevant factors underlying sprawl were more recently proposed [93], discriminating dynamics into systematic repertories of local contexts and demonstrating new cases of urban dispersion. Compared with the Anglo-Saxon experience, sprawl appeared quite late in the Mediterranean urban literature [14,33,34,69,81], revealing three synergistic features: (i) the impact of diversified urban forms, (ii) the "hesitant" role of territorial planning, and (iii) the conflicting relationship between population and urbanity. Most of the greatest Mediterranean cities had compactness as a distinctive feature of their urban landscapes [91].…”

“…Morphological dimensions were integrated in this perspective, enriching mainstream and alternative visions of regional planning and landscape ecology [78][79][80]. The specific demographic profiles that characterize European peri-urban areas, the main differences with well-known American stereotypes, or how much class segregation is observed in planned areas compared to informal ones are issues that should be better investigated in future studies [81,82]. Figure 2.…”

Swimming Pool Evaporative Water Loss and Water Use in the Balearic Islands (Spain)

“…The presence of swimming pools increases water consumption levels in the residential sector [12,[17][18][19]21,22]. This observation includes, but is not limited to, areas in which tourism has blended with demographic and urban growth to create a complex urbanization of entire coastal regions and island communities [2,12,22]. A study of Barcelona (Spain) revealed that adding a pool to the home increases water consumption by 155 L per day [23].…”

“…The proliferation of swimming pools marks a transition in urban water consumption and signifies broad changes in the urban and societal appropriation of resources. Particularly in the built environments of the coastal Mediterranean, swimming pools are connected with shifts in the urban lifestyles and an increase in residential tourism [12,13,22]. Residential tourism is now a global phenomenon that comprises the occasional use of a second home for vacation and recreation, including renting it out as a holiday home [27].…”