Types of Gated Communities

Abstract

In the last decade the planning literature has reflected growing interest in the topic of gated communities. To date, this relatively new field of research has generated limited theoretical development. Although recent literature has begun to elucidate the social and economic contexts that make gated enclaves a global phenomenon, few works offer an overview of the physical features of gated communities. The key source articulating a framework for understanding gated communities is Blakely and Snyder's, Fortress America. Although Blakely and Snyder provide detailed findings on the form of gated projects in the US context, they say little about gating elsewhere. This paper draws on a range of literature on gated enclaves to examine and augment the typology created by Blakely and Snyder. Building theory to explain the form and character of gated communities requires the consideration of a range of historical experiences and international differences in practice. Although classification alone does not constitute theory, it provides an important foundation for those seeking to generate premises and principles for further theoretical development. It also offers useful tools for case studies of practice.

Fragmenting and isolating neighbourhoods: a way of creating flexible spaces and flexible behaviours?

“…So far, changes in the spatial structures in Poznań neighbourhoods have displayed a tendency towards making boundaries more distinct through the introduction of fences, walls, cameras and security guards (Grant and Mittelstead 2004;Low 2004;Jałowiecki and Łukowski 2007;Kotus 2007). Spatial fragmentation and turning neighbourhoods into enclaves do not facilitate the development of architecturally flexible neighbourhood spaces.…”

“…Many researchers throughout the world present examples of physically separated spaces surrounded by walls and fences behind which housing-estate communities spend their lives. 'Spatially isolating communities' can be found in Saudi Arabia (Glasze and Alkhayyal 2002), in cities of South America (Coy and Pöhler 2002), the Republic of South Africa (Jürgens and Gnad 2002), Canada (Grant and Mittelstead 2004), the British Isles (Webster 2001), Indonesia (Leisch 2002), and southern Europe (Munoz 2003). Blakely and Snyder (1997) observe that gated communities develop as a result of a shaken sense of safety of the city dwellers, but also because of their need to emphasise the preferred lifestyle or membership of a specified social category.…”

So ograjene skupnosti za stanovalce nepogrešljive?

“…Tovrstne skupnosti so videti kot nekakšne varnostne cone (Blakely in Snyder, 1997; Lang in Danielsen, 1997; So ograjene skupnosti za stanovalce nepogrešljive? Ellin, 2001;Grant in Mittelsteadt, 2004;Bekleyen in Dalkılıç, 2011, in Yılmaz-Ay, 2013. »Uporabljajo varnostne naprave, kot so zidovi, ograje, vrata, ovire, alarmi, varnostniki in nadzorne kamere.« (Roitman, 2005: 304.…”

“…Prejšnje raziskave so pokazale, da obstoj OS temelji na potrebi po varnosti (Blakely in Snyder, 1997;Atkinson in Flint, 2004;Grant in Mittelsteadt, 2004;Roitman, 2005, ter Asiedu in Arku, 2009. Ugotovitve te raziskave podobno kažejo, da anketiranci svoje skupnosti in hiše dojemajo kot varne (90 % oziroma 93 %).…”

Global borderlands: a case study of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines

“…This includes American residential segregation patterns, ethnic enclaves, colonial residence patterns, fortress cities, and slums (Massey and Denton 1993;Drakakis-Smith 2000). Such borders also serve to concentrate and spatially isolate the wealthy, for example, in gated communities, fortified enclaves, and suburban shopping malls (Grant and Mittelsteadt 2004;Blakely and Synder 1999;Caldeira 1996;Cohen 1996). These spatial arrangements are also often intertwined with symbolic IDs-as well as visitors and shoppers-who are not required to have IDs-must walk through to enter or leave the area.…”