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The association between neighbourhood characteristics and residential relocation is a classic topic in urban studies. In China, where gated communities (GCs) have become a highly popular residential form, how and to what extent residents' perceptions of GCs affect their relocation intention has not been quantitatively examined. Drawing on a large‐scale household survey conducted in Shanghai, we use multi‐level logistic regression models to examine the impact of the perceptions of neighbourhood environment, attachment and gatedness on relocation intention. Our findings are threefold: (1) the greater the perceived improvement of the neighbourhood environment, the lower the likelihood of relocation intention; (2) respondents with higher levels of neighbourhood attachment tend to have lower relocation intention and (3) respondents living in neighbourhoods with higher levels of gatedness are less likely to have relocation intention. This research contributes to the literature of neighbourhood studies and GCs by quantifying the ramification of entrenched 'gated mindset' in urban China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of gated communities in Kolkata transpired in the era of globalization. These residential enclaves are designed to fulfill the need for housing that provides modern conveniences and maintains a high standard of quality. In the preceding twenty years, a considerable number of gated residential communities have emerged within the city of Kolkata. The present study used GPS survey techniques to identify the locations of gated communities throughout the city of Kolkata. The study aims to examine the various typologies of gated communities in the city of Kolkata. It offers a complete analysis of the unique characteristics displayed by gated communities in Kolkata. The shift from government-owned gated complexes to privately-owned gated communities may be readily noticed in Kolkata. This study involved the classification of gated communities based on their evolution, total number of residential units, areal size of the community, and nature of enclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growth, prevalence and influence of private urban governance, scholarship that explores the intimate workings of these manifold and mutating forms remains limited. While these private ventures carry forward elements from the past, the landscape of urban governance has nonetheless undergone profound transformation. Over the past few decades, the global expansion and influence of private governing ventures have reshaped how cities are managed, organised and experienced. This special issue on the New Private Urban Governance examines the constantly evolving modalities of private governance (i.e. business improvement districts/areas, condominium/strata corporations, gated communities, POPS and others) in a global context. Organised around new, interrelated themes of vestiges, ventures and visibility, this issue comprises case studies, syntheses of longstanding empirical projects and novel theoretical/conceptual interventions into political and spatial practices, knowledges and technologies of these privately governed realms. Focused on the spatialisation of politics, vestiges reflects the idea that while neoliberal forms of private urban governance continue to proliferate, they rely and build upon, rather than fully replace, earlier, more public governance practices, logics and spaces. Ventures emphasises that the private and market-oriented thrust of urban governance is heavily predicated on the protection and extraction of value and the intensifying financialisation of urban landscapes and life. Visibility highlights how governing technologies render private urban governance visible and in doing so highlight the politics of space. These three themes together expose the workings of the new private urban governance while invigorating further explorations of this complex phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities remain identified with strong forms of socio-physical segregation, yet there has been relatively light engagement with the question of how their residents engage with the city more broadly. This relationship, of protected privacy to open public space, is important because segregation is found in modes of mobility as well as in fixed residential spaces. This article contributes to the understanding of mobile forms of segregation by examining the use of public space, and sites of work, leisure and city services, by the (upper) middle-class residents of two high-end gated communities in Zhanjiang, a middle-tier Chinese city. In these relatively new elite residential spaces, newly status-conscious inhabitants reveal how their use of private modes of travel, avoidance of public transportation systems and efforts at seamless traversal of urban spaces connect to ideas of social achievement. Through extensive qualitative fieldwork in these two sites, we are granted a privileged insight into the ways in which China's nascent middle classes utilise shielded addresses from which to access what they see as status-conferring lifestyle and taste destinations through private modes of mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities house 40% of Bogotá’s population today. Streets formed when two gated communities face each other, dominated by fences and walls are a common sight. Situating our research on informal social control and critical security theories, we analyse how gated communities shape non-exclusionary access and security in the streets and public spaces outside the gates. Applying systematic observations and interviews in streets outside gated communities in Bogotá, we collect data from all public space users. We show that in these spaces, the passer-by is perceived as a threat and hence not welcomed. We find that gated communities are redistributing access and security not just inside but also outside the gates, serving the needs of some, while dismissing the collective interest of inclusive and secure public spaces for all and hence are a threat to the democratic nature of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Place names play an important role in neoliberal urban development. The naming of a housing estate, especially a gated community, is instrumental in constructing the image and intended sense of community of an estate. This paper scrutinises the naming of housing estates in Incek, one of the most prestigious suburbs of Ankara, Turkey. While development in the area began with middle-class housing cooperatives, today Incek is marketed as an idyllic landscape embodying high-rise luxurious gated communities. We show that the naming of the housing estates not only reflects but also contributes to the shift in the mode of production from housing cooperatives to gated communities built and marketed by large-scale companies. Additionally, the name Incek has come to refer to not only the official boundaries of the neighbourhood but a larger territory, which illustrates the unfixed nature of toponyms in terms of location. Finally, the paper shows that there is a reciprocal relationship between the toponym and the image of a particular district, which can affect the functions and activities that flourish within it. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of social relations has been changing drastically in recent times. It is more so in the urban areas where lifestyles are getting more and more secluded day by day. However, social connectedness is essential for social and individual well-being. Therefore, the present study explores the level of social connectedness in the gated residential enclaves of the Mumbai Suburban District by conducting a case study of Mulund. The data for the study is collected using a questionnaire survey conducted at the household level (n = 243) in the gated residential enclaves of Mulund. The data thus collected were analyzed through statistical measures such as frequency distribution, composite measure, and chi-square test, etc. The data analysis was carried out in SPSS 26 and ArcMap 10.8 software. The results of the study reveal that a vast majority of the households in gated residential enclaves of Mulund have a medium level (76.3%) of social connectedness. This is followed by households with low (17.3%), and high levels (6.2%) of social connectedness respectively. Locality-wise variations in social connectedness were also found in the study area with the households in Mulund West depicting greater connectedness than their counterparts in Mulund East. The study concludes that social connectedness in the gated residential enclaves of Mulund is not up to the mark and further studies are required to identify the determinants of social connectedness and to assess their role to formulate ways for improving the status of social connectedness in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiscal constraints facing municipal governments make gated communities that self-finance their amenities a welcome phenomenon. However, studies exclusively devoted to investigating the types of amenities supplied in gated communities and the factors that determine their supply remain unexplored. This paper fills this gap by using survey data from 51 gated communities sampled across the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in Ghana. After conceptualizing 10 different amenity categories commonly found in gated communities, it finds that security, governance, accessibility, and communal-related amenities are those commonly found in gated communities in GAMA. Multiple linear regression modeling reveals that only four amenity categories, namely, security, governance, communal and health-related amenities have a significant model fit. It further finds that both the "number of houses planned" and the "year project construction began" increase the number of all four amenity categories provided in gated communities. However, other locational, company and project characteristics have a differential impact on the number of these four amenities provided, some of which appear to contradict some existing theoretical propositions underlying the provision of amenities in gated communities. It concludes by reflecting on municipal authorities' increasing reliance on gated communities to supply amenities in light of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, gated communities have increasingly become an attractive lifestyle residence worldwide and in the Middle fostering security, privacy, seclusion, and exclusivity. Nonetheless, it seems that with these benefits, other impacts had unfolded and exposed the urban fabric to new attributes such as segregation, fragmentation, and social exclusion. However, gaps exist in the literature on comparative studies on gated communities in regions such as GCC (Gulf Corporation Council) countries and the Middle East (Glasze & Alkhayyal, 2002). This paper aims to examine the social impact of gated communities on the surrounding neighbourhoods through a comparative analysis of cases from the Middle East and GCC. The methodology was implemented to develop a qualitative framework of social segregation indicators to examine similarities and differences between the cases, aiming to identify patterns and gain insights to answer the article's question of whether this phenomenon can be contagious in different settings. Findings reveal that gated communities can have negative and positive impacts on the social well-being of the surrounding neighbourhoods and may lead to social segregation and exclusion in different geographical settings despite their emergence motives. The paper concludes that isolation and lack of interaction between residents inside and outside the walls may have impacts on the social aspect of the surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, through an anthropological lens inspired by Anthony Leeds’ concept of locality, examines the interplay between urban governance and autocratization in Shanghai’s gated communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As strategic microcosms within China’s cities, these urban spaces are analysed as distinct human-geographical units to reveal the intricacies of multilevel governance within China’s authoritarian framework. Drawing on a multifaced ethnographic approach, including online and offline ethnographic research and secondary data analysis, the paper explores how gated communities act as potential enclaves for democratic practices, fostering public participation amidst strong state control. The findings highlight the pivotal role of urban fabric in shaping political dynamics, positioning gated communities as key sites for understanding deepening autocratization processes in urban China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rather than a radical new way of entangling space and society fashioned by late capitalism and neoliberalism, gated communities are the latest iteration of a long chain of power mechanisms devised to reproduce racial hierarchies and to defend "proper citizens" against internal and external enemies. Based on ethnographic data produced in Nordelta, one of Latin America's largest gated communities, this article concentrates on a twofold process through which Nordelteños produce their social and physical spaces: first, on the relationships they establish with their surroundings, negating its natural and cultural dimensions, and second, on the different technologies they have deployed to exclude, monitor and sanction the nearby "improper" population. In a country that has never ceased to define its legitimate citizenry upon their own category of "whiteness", this analysis contributes to understand how Argentine gated communities entangle elites, racism and segregation to produce a space of exception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities have spread globally, though unevenly. However, their early popularity and expansion from North America to other different localities have led to their physical and social diversification (i.e., morphological design and locking mechanisms and their resident profiles, which are not limited to the richest classes). This diversity has resulted in varied and sometimes conflicting concepts and classification criteria. Given this situation, this study aims to propose a typology of these developments that encompasses all current forms, based on an exhaustive census we compiled. We used a broader concept adapted to the research context, that of the 'Residential Compound', based on the idea that total closure is not an essential condition for consideration. Although the empirical work is based on the metropolitan area of Granada (Spain), we believe it is representative of most Spanish and possibly European metropolitan areas. Using satellite images and the Spanish electronic cadastre, we compiled a census of 642 residential compounds, classified based on over 50 variables. These compounds were categorized into five types depending on the enclosure level: (1) protected compounds; (2) controlled compounds; (3) structurally self-isolated compounds; (4) individualistic compounds; and (5) symbolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global capital investment in the housing sector has transformed major African cities such as Accra into segregated clusters of high-rise buildings and ultramodern residential areas. The development of housing projects, such as Gated Communities (GCs), in peri-urban areas has resulted in a contrasting phenomenon of residents living in traditional housing units alongside modern housing complexes. This paper maps the impacts of Ayi Mensah Park, a privately built gated community in peri-urban Accra, Ghana. Specifically, it explores the perceptions, emotions and attitudes of residents living in the immediate environs of this gated community and how these opinions shape their life aspirations, particularly regarding housing. Using semistructured interviews and drawing on the concepts of ‘peripheral urbanisation’ and ‘care’, we found that residents express varied emotions (happiness, excitement, admiration, pride, disappointment, anger, apathy, and frustration) towards the presence of the gated community. Some of these emotions resulted in action, such as pulling down old buildings and constructing new modern apartments in their places. We conclude that the presence and aesthetic characteristics of gated communities in peri-urban areas invoke contrasting affective elements of both aspirations and despair among residents, resulting in new practices of care for the community and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime impacts residential neighborhoods not only through the loss of life and property but also by instilling a widespread fear among residents. To combat this fear, physical security measures like safety locks, gates, and high perimeter walls have proven effective in both developed and developing nations. This trend has led to the increased popularity of gated communities in Pakistan as a preferred housing choice. In addition to encouraging micro-segregation, these developments also attract a large number of residents. In order to better understand the differences in residents' fear of crime in relation to their health and socio-economic status, this paper compares residential housing schemes in Quetta, Pakistan (gated and non-gated). Surveys and on-site observations in four different residential areas of the city underpin the methodology. The results suggest that past experiences of crime victimization strongly affect feelings of safety in both gated and non-gated communities. The study highlights the complex relationship between the perception of safety, health and well-being, socio-economic status, and the type of community, highlighting how these factors collectively influence respondents' experiences and create micro-segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGated communities, which physically embody prestige and exclusivity through their security features and gating practices, started proliferating in the United States and were subsequently copied by other countries worldwide. However, even when replicated, the suburban gated communities in the Prague Urban Region differ in terms of size and the function of their security features and gating practices. Applying the typology of Blakely and Snyder, the research results propose a new type of development: the bubble community. This term refers to social separation with rather weak and temporary enclosure practices. The research findings indicate that bubble communities are usually small developments with weak gating practices and security features, where residents prefer to live in their own small social bubbles. Analyzing data acquired from extensive field mapping, field survey, and photo documentation, the research focuses on the physical distribution and spatial and physical characteristics of the two surrounding administrative districts: Prague-West and Prague-East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite gated communities becoming a prominent form of housing in the Global South cities, the extent to which these privatized neighborhoods foster a sense of community remains understudied. Most of the studies on sense of community are based on experiences from the Global North. To address this lacuna, this paper examines the extent to which residents of gated communities develop a sense of community and the different factors that are associated with this sense of community. We conducted regression analysis on cross-sectional survey data from Devtraco and Manet gated communities, to determine factors associated with a sense of community in these gated communities. Our findings demonstrate that residents of gated communities exhibit a stronger sense of community—shaped by different individual, household, and environmental characteristics. Interestingly, our study reveals that males have a higher sense of community compared to females. Age, length of residence, tenure status, household size, and proximity to community features were significant factors associated with sense of community. Our study adds to the extant literature on a sense of community among individuals living in gated communities in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the territorial transformations of the metropolitan edge of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the gated communities play a leading role. The dispersion process of these activities in the last decades realizes that urban planning has not been able to accompany this development. Faced with this problem, the work investigates the localization process of these new residential areas on the metropolitan edge of Buenos Aires in 1972 and 2012. The elaboration of a specific cartography of the same one allows, when crossing it with the local bibliography, an interpretation of the dynamics in progress. These metropolitan edges that previously were the object of attention by low and lowmiddle classes for the location of their residences, now result also of interest for the upper and uppermiddle classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Las Vegas’ residential terrain has often been overlooked beyond the city’s history of extreme spatial and economic segregation in the mid-1900s due to its development as a tourist city. This research reflects that history in the 21st century through the lens of population geography, which demonstrates that heavy in-migration to Nevada after 1990 flooded a landscape of severe segregation and thus reshaped the city’s racial and ethnic boundaries. A comparison between patterns of racial and ethnic distribution with access to quality education as well as the distribution of gated communities reveals that historical barriers to minority mobility persisted in new, more fluid forms after these waves of immigration. Namely, the overall geographical tendency of Las Vegas subregions with the highest proportions of gated communities and high-quality educational institutions to be areas with majority white populations demonstrates that systems of community and educational privatization may represent a new era of white flight. As such, this research introduces Las Vegas’ 20th and 21st century residential geography as a significant example of how racial barriers and tools of segregation transfigure over time, especially in environments undergoing immense demographic reorganization.

يتناول البحث دور الاستدامة الاجتماعية في تحسين سلوكيات السكان في الفراغات المفتوحة والحد من السلوكيات السلبية، ويركز بوجه خاص على الفراغات المفتوحة ذات الصلة بالمباني السكنية في مشاريع الإسكان لفئات الدخل فوق المتوسط بالمجتمعات المسورة في المدن الجديدة، وفي هذا الإطار يتبع البحث العلاقة بين ثلاثة محاور أساسية وهي الاستدامة الاجتماعية والفراغات المفتوحة ذات الصلة بالمباني السكنية والسلوكيات، وتم ذلك من خلال الجزء النظري حيث تم دراسة اهم المفاهيم المؤشرات والابعاد الخاصة بكل محور من محاور الدراسة وصولاً إلى 221 مؤشراً، ثم تم تطبيق الية لاختيار المؤشرات وتلخيصهم في 36 مؤشراً. ومن ثم تم الاستعانة بها في الجزء التطبيقي لرصد وتحليل وتقييم سلوكيات الافراد في المناطق المفتوحة ذات الصلة بالمناطق السكنية من خلال عمل استبيانات مع المستعملين، وعمل زيارات ميدانية والتي تم من خلالها رصد وتحليل وتوثيق للفراغات المفتوحة والأنشطة وسلوك المستعملين. ومن ثم استخلص البحث مجموعة من الخطوط الاسترشادية التي يمكن من خلالها تطبيق مبادئ الاستدامة الاجتماعية وتحسين سلوكيات المستعملين في الفراغات السكنية في المجتمعات السكنية المغلقة. The research addresses the role of social sustainability in improving people's behavior in open spaces and reducing anti-social behavior and focuses specifically on open spaces related to residential buildings in housing projects for middle income groups in gated communities, In this context, the research follows the relationship between three main axes: social sustainability and open spaces related to residential buildings and behaviors And this was done through the theoretical part where the main concepts of indicators and dimensions of each of the axes of the study were studied down to 221 indicators, A mechanism was then applied to select and summarize indicators in 36 indicators. These were then used in the applied part to monitor, analyze, and evaluate the behavior of individuals in open spaces relevant to residential areas, through questionnaires with users and through field visits to monitor, analyze and document open spaces and user behavior. The research has therefore identified significant guidelines for applying social sustainability principles and improving user behavior in enclosed residential spaces.

Background/Objectives: As people age, their environment plays a critical role in shaping their health. With Thailand’s rapidly aging population, it is crucial to understand how different living environments affect the well-being of older adults. This study examines differences in biopsychosocial health indicators between older adults living in village communities and private housing estates in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from the Community-Integrated Intermediary Care (CIIC) Service Model, a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Thailand (TCTR20190412004). The study included 2788 older adults (aged 60+). Of these, 89.49% resided in village communities, and 10.51% in private housing estates. Validated instruments were used to assess health indicators. Descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Older adults in private housing estates had significantly lower odds of experiencing pain or discomfort (Adj OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49–0.84) and were 1.36 times more likely to report positive perceived health. However, they had lower odds of perceiving themselves as physically and socially active (Adj OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.57–0.97) and were 0.30 times less likely to rate their quality of life higher (Adj OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.22–0.40) compared to their village community counterparts. Conclusions: The residential environment significantly influences older adults’ health and well-being. Tailored health promotion interventions should leverage the unique strengths of both village communities and private housing estates to enhance social connections, physical activity, and quality of life, promoting healthy, active aging across diverse settings.

Gated residential communities are commonly portrayed as a negative phenomenon, leading to social segregation. However, given gated condominiums are commonly located in older residential areas of cities, it has been argued they have greater potential for social-tenurial mix. Bangkok is now seeing a proliferation of condominium building by transit in such areas. The aim of this research is to establish the extent to which this development results in social segregation. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with gated and non-gated residents in a case study area and the theories of Schutz and the lifeworld were drawn upon to understand the data collected. Findings reveal limited social interactions between the populations and significant physical, social, and symbolic divisions, accentuated by the transient character of the condominiums. Thus, condominiums built in residential areas do not appear to encourage social-tenurial mix. Exploring the subjects' lifeworlds has also revealed how subjective meanings are constructed and embedded within a particular culture, which is critical to understanding social segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper explores how uncertainty has become a central constitutive feature under the ongoing attempts at rapid extension of highway corridors across India. Contrary to the terra nullius assumption that India's highway programmes operate under, the pathways to accumulation they seek to open present a palimpsest of pre‐existing claims, occupancies and forms of dwelling that come into conflict with the attempts to extend urban space. The paper specifically follows the prolonged uncertainty surrounding a regional highway corridor between the cities of Delhi and Gurgaon, the Dwarka Expressway, which underwent multiple legal contestations over evictions and land disputes. In doing so, it analyses how managing uncertainty in the production of highway corridors becomes profitable for the state, powerful corporate actors and middle‐class homebuyer‐investors, presenting a form of value that can be commodified and exchanged. However, on the other hand, owing to its double‐edged nature, uncertainty also becomes productive for the urban majority in laying claims to urban space. As rapid extended urbanisation increasingly disrupts the lifeworlds of marginal communities, this paper calls for embracing the politics and practices of uncertainty in the continued efforts to push ex‐centric urban analysis beyond the narrow focus on state processes and commodification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of gated communities and the omnipresence of video surveillance have changed urban life considerably in the last decades. Especially in cities governed by neoliberal public policies and widespread fear of crime, residents search for security, social status, and shared services in fortified enclaves where video cameras watch everybody who enters their premises. These developments are not restricted to private space, and affluent neighborhoods in megacities are eager to adopt a wide range of surveillance technology to protect their citizens. Eight years ago, the affluent municipality of Lo Barnechea in the metropolitan region of Santiago, Chile, installed a surveillance balloon in a residential area. The local security forces currently operate six balloons, and residents have become accustomed to the ever-present gaze of aerial video cameras. This article contrasts the presence of this technology in a megacity against different perspectives on surveillance and urbanism. A consideration of its panoptic features leaves an unsatisfactory explanation. Citizens actively participate in generating public policies and smart technology for public safety, as is characteristic of a maximum security society. The surveillance balloons have become a sustainable element in the urban landscape and an appreciated part of the social fabric of the residential neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Nordelta is one of the largest gated communities in Latin America. To produce a purified sanctuary, the Nordelta compound has deployed fenced walls, guards, barriers, CCTV cameras, dogs, movement sensors and a dozen other power mechanisms aimed at controlling human and non-human movements and behaviors in and around the compound. Its three accesses gates are crossed every day by thousands of cars, buses, students, visitors, workers, animals and objects. Looking closely at the issues of exchange and circulation, this article addresses the following questions: which entities—humans, objects and information—can access the compound and how; which cannot; and which are prevented from leaving. Further, it analyses the normalization processes through which potentially harmful entities must go through to be accepted inside Nordelta. The analysis not only reviews these dispositives but also considers the tactics devised and deployed by propietarios, workers and visitors to avoid, re-appropriate and/or resist them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGated communities (GCs) and associated socio-economic implications are of global concern. How GCs and non-GCs responded to the external shock of the pandemic has not been comprehensively understood. Drawing on the information of infected cases during the first wave pandemic (January-March 2020) and longitudinal data of housing sales and rental prices for each community from July/2019-June/2020 in 11 Chinese cities, we employ a hedonic difference-in-differences approach accounting for heterogenous effects in stagger timing to discover the effects of COVID-19 on housing price differences between GCs and non-GCs. Moreover, the buffer zones of infected epicentres are delineated to explore the spillover effects. Compared with GCs, non-GCs with different distances from the pandemic epicentres experienced significantly greater reductions in both housing sales and rental prices at varying degrees. While the effect on housing sales prices was significant over time, it only lasted for one month for rental prices. This study enhances our understanding of housing price dynamics and the socio-spatial implications of GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of gated communities in Amman calls for a nuanced investigation as they increasingly become the preferred housing choice for middle and upper-middle residents. This article attempts to correlate the social and spatial characteristics of Arabian neighbourhoods with the implications associated with gated communities, such as fragmentation and seclusion. The investigation employs a descriptive-analytic method and historical inquiry, including the evolution of Amman's master plan. In addition to case study observations and analysis of Al Andalucía being the first gated community developed in Amman. Findings suggest that separation and segregation can be achieved without affecting the quality of life, as walls, historically, played a vital role in encouraging interaction. Notably, gated communities show no correlation with the historical morphological context as they symbolise segregation, fragmentation, and exclusion. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the pragmatic notion of gates and walls in history and how people interacted spatially and socially, which can be echoed in modern gated communities aiming to reduce their impacts on the surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of gated communities within the urban realm in Ghana has become a major concern for urban planning and governance. As an aspect of the broader urban system, gated communities have a preponderant effect on the urban fabric and the achievement of urban resilience. Under the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal 11, resilience has become the preoccupation of urban planning and governance. Also, there is the realization that resilient communities are building blocks of a resilient and sustainable city. The paper argues that despite the increase in scholarship on gated communities in Ghana, no attempt has been made to relate the development of gated communities to urban resilience in spatial and temporal scales. Therefore, using systematic review methodology, the paper assessed the gated communities and urban resilience nexus in the rapidly urbanizing city of Accra, Ghana. The results revealed a dichotomous stance which portrays gated communities as both drawbacks (fragments) and promoters (fractals) of urban resilience. The paper further proffers policy recommendations and highlights empirical gaps pertaining to the gated community and urban resilience discourse in Ghana.

Communities or neighborhoods are specific places in the research field of place identity that links between environment and psychology to address the sense of belonging as one of crucial human needs. This article explores the community identity in Chinese urban communities to investigate differences between sense of communities, and community satisfaction. Since 1980s, gated communities (Xiaoqu) are the dominant form of residential development in urban China and sometimes have the same boundary as the community (Shequ). Thus, this article sheds light on different understanding of gated communities in and outside of China. It is approached via deductive research to assess four specific hypotheses based on the concepts of communities, neighborhoods and gated communities. Four gated communities from Suzhou Industrial Park in China are used as study sites, where primary data was collected and then analyzed via multiple linear regression model and logistic regression model. Interestingly, the finding shows that having an active homeowners’ committee, which is considered as a socio-political force, is negatively associated with a sense of community. In addition, representation is positively associated with community identity in general. The findings imply that property management fees play an important role in residents’ community identity. In addition, the finding also supports that sense of community is a social rather than a physical construction.

Abstract Nowadays, the world is facing a global issue as a result of the depletion of the environment’s natural resources. This is a consequence of conventional building techniques that exploit these resources without considering the negative consequences on the environment and the future. This is the reason why there is an urge to preserve these resources for the sake of future generations. Sustainability’s main aim is to preserve the environment’s natural resources, like water and energy, to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Based on this, the United Nations initiated a global trend to face this challenge through sustainable building. This paper investigates the positive impact of sustainable building on the environment and the users in order to provide a better quality of life. The case study investigates Madinaty city, which is a gated community situated to the east of Cairo city center. Initially, sustainability is analyzed based on global and local criteria, and its impact on the environment and user is evaluated. Based on the global assessment, the results show that Madinaty has succeeded in achieving sustainable design; however, some issues need to be improved such as housing affordability, availability of services, and preserving the cultural heritage. On the local level, all criteria are met except for the balance between supply and demand. When evaluating these results, it is concluded that Madinaty has succeeded in having a positive impact on the environment and the users, eventually providing a better quality of life.

Mexican metropolises, like many others in Latin America, are facing complex challenges connected to rapid urbanisation and population growth. Local governments struggle to provide the necessary infrastructure, housing, security, and basic services in a highly divided—socially and spatially—urban realm. Socio-spatial fragmentation in cities like Guadalajara and Puebla has existed since their foundations in the 16th century, as planning guidelines in the Laws of the Indies established differentiated rules for Spaniards and indigenous people. However, in recent decades, neoliberal planning and housing policy reforms, the consolidation of the real estate market, growing crime and violence, and socioeconomic disparities have contributed to more tangible forms of planned socio-spatial fragmentation, such as gated communities. This work discusses how policies and social practices have led to the normalisation of these fortified enclaves in the metropolises of Guadalajara and Puebla, whose capital cities are preparing to celebrate their 500th anniversaries in a context of conflict, loss of shared space, insecurity, and social inequalities. The work is based on a comprehensive review of national and local planning and housing policies, a historical and cartographic analysis of neighbourhood development, and qualitative research in Puebla over a decade, along with similar work in Guadalajara in the last couple of years. The relevance of this work lies in identifying the role of planning in the production of fragmented urban structures and visualising the possibilities for more inclusive solutions.

Due to climate change, Egypt has recently suffered from recurring electricity crises. Despite efforts made to increase electricity production in Egypt, recently, in the summer months, the energy demand has increased at unprecedented rates, especially in the housing sector. Therefore, the government and homeowners should work together to improve the energy performance of residential buildings. This paper aimed to develop a decision-making tool that helps homeowners choose optimal energy retrofit measures that suit their priorities. The study began with the data-collection and case study selection. Then, the thermal evaluation of the base case for dwellings in the case study was conducted through simulation runs using the DesignBuilder v7.1 software. Then, the optimal envelope energy retrofitting measures were determined, followed by a retrofitting-measure scenario simulation process. Then, the payback periods were calculated for all scenarios, and the tool database was developed using an Excel spreadsheet. Finally, the user interface for envelope energy retrofitting measures for gated communities (EERMGCs) tool was designed by Visual Basic for Applications. EERMGCs, the tool developed in this paper, is a simple, multi-objective and interactive tool that provides the optimal envelope retrofit measures according to user priorities, either a specific budget, the shortest payback period, the lowest possible costs, or the highest energy saving rate. The outcome of this research is developing a framework that can be considered a basis for developing decision-making tools for gated community housing in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalent transition from ancient city walls to individualized forms of gated communities and fences elicited this study. This paper examined residents` perceptions and the characteristics of perimeter fencing in a traditional Yoruba settlement. It obtained primary data through the administration of questionnaires among residents of neighbourhoods within the study area. Physical observation aided in the identification of all residential neighbourhoods, which were stratified into three distinct and homogenous zones. One out of every four neighbourhoods in each homogenous zone was purposively selected. A total of 2055 buildings were identified within the selected neighbourhoods. Using systematic sampling, a total of 206 residents in separate dwelling units were selected for the survey. Residents perceived perimeter fencing as a feature for land boundary delineation, crime prevention, ownership and control, as well as privacy. Residential areas with a predominant rate of crime, a feeling of insecurity and disputes on land ownership were likely to witness increased use of perimeter fencing. The study recommends that local planning authorities should develop standards and regulations for perimeter fencing with consideration for the unique socio-cultural context. Improved methods of land allocation and subdivision should be implemented within traditional settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Gated Communities (GCs) are rapidly popularizing and becoming a dominant form of housing in Global South Cities. Using binary logistic regression analysis, this article examines how socio-demographic and housing characteristics predict residents' satisfaction with privacy in Devtraco and Manet (GCs) in Accra, Ghana. Ceteris paribus, residents of Devtraco had lower odds of being satisfied with privacy compared to those in Manet (OR = 0.23; p < 0.05). Level of education, age, home renovations were positively associated with satisfaction with privacy. Respondents with post-secondary education had higher odds of being satisfied with privacy compared to those with secondary education or less (OR= 10.56; p < 0.01). Respondents who changed their interior doors reported higher satisfaction with privacy in their homes compared to those that did not change their interior doors (OR = 4.94; p < 0.05). Complaints against housing features and security service charges decrease residents' satisfaction with privacy. Thus, the findings might inform decision making for different housing actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities have spread globally, though unevenly. However, their early popularity and expansion from North America to other different localities have led to their physical and social diversification (i.e., morphological design and locking mechanisms and their resident profiles, which are not limited to the richest classes). This diversity has resulted in varied and sometimes conflicting concepts and classification criteria. Given this situation, this study aims to propose a typology of these developments that encompasses all current forms, based on an exhaustive census we compiled. We used a broader concept adapted to the research context, that of the ‘Residential Compound’, based on the idea that total closure is not an essential condition for consideration. Although the empirical work is based on the metropolitan area of Granada (Spain), we believe it is representative of most Spanish and possibly European metropolitan areas. Using satellite images and the Spanish electronic cadastre, we compiled a census of 642 residential compounds, classified based on over 50 variables. These compounds were categorized into five types depending on the enclosure level: (1) protected compounds; (2) controlled compounds; (3) structurally self-isolated compounds; (4) individualistic compounds; and (5) symbolic compounds.

Crime impacts residential neighborhoods not only through the loss of life and property but also by instilling a widespread fear among residents. To combat this fear, physical security measures like safety locks, gates, and high perimeter walls have proven effective in both developed and developing nations. This trend has led to the increased popularity of gated communities in Pakistan as a preferred housing choice. In addition to encouraging micro-segregation, these developments also attract a large number of residents. In order to better understand the differences in residents’ fear of crime in relation to their health and socio-economic status, this paper compares residential housing schemes in Quetta, Pakistan (gated and non-gated). Surveys and on-site observations in four different residential areas of the city underpin the methodology. The results suggest that past experiences of crime victimization strongly affect feelings of safety in both gated and non-gated communities. The study highlights the complex relationship between the perception of safety, health and well-being, socio-economic status, and the type of community, highlighting how these factors collectively influence respondents’ experiences and create micro-segregation.

ABSTRACTThe prevalent transition from ancient city walls to individualized forms of gated communities and fences elicited this study. This paper examined residents` perceptions and the characteristics of perimeter fencing in a traditional Yoruba settlement. It obtained primary data through the administration of questionnaires among residents of neighbourhoods within the study area. Physical observation aided in the identification of all residential neighbourhoods, which were stratified into three distinct and homogenous zones. One out of every four neighbourhoods in each homogenous zone was purposively selected. A total of 2055 buildings were identified within the selected neighbourhoods. Using systematic sampling, a total of 206 residents in separate dwelling units were selected for the survey. Residents perceived perimeter fencing as a feature for land boundary delineation, crime prevention, ownership and control, as well as privacy. Residential areas with a predominant rate of crime, a feeling of insecurity and disputes on land ownership were likely to witness increased use of perimeter fencing. The study recommends that local planning authorities should develop standards and regulations for perimeter fencing with consideration for the unique socio-cultural context. Improved methods of land allocation and subdivision should be implemented within traditional settlements

Communities or neighborhoods are specific places in the research field of place identity that links between environment and psychology to address the sense of belonging as one of crucial human needs. This article explores the community identity in Chinese urban communities to investigate differences between sense of communities, and community satisfaction. Since 1980s, gated communities (Xiaoqu) are the dominant form of residential development in urban China and sometimes have the same boundary as the community (Shequ). Thus, this article sheds light on different understanding of gated communities in and outside of China. It is approached via deductive research to assess four specific hypotheses based on the concepts of communities, neighborhoods and gated communities. Four gated communities from Suzhou Industrial Park in China are used as study sites, where primary data was collected and then analyzed via multiple linear regression model and logistic regression model. Interestingly, the finding shows that having an active homeowners’ committee, which is considered as a socio-political force, is negatively associated with a sense of community. In addition, representation is positively associated with community identity in general. The findings imply that property management fees play an important role in residents’ community identity. In addition, the finding also supports that sense of community is a social rather than a physical construction.

Although gated communities (GCs) have spread globally, their prevalence in China is often attributed to China's unique tradition of gated living. In 2016, China announced policy recommendations intending to end GCs, which faced societal resistance. To elucidate the nature of this resistance, we interviewed experienced Chinese officials, practitioners, and scholars—who, inevitably, were themselves GC residents. They challenge the policy in two ways: policy-rejectors justify gating as common sense and stress risks of ungating, whereas policy-sympathizers understand the policy shift but doubt its feasibility. Their rationales reveal ingrained cognitive dissonance and entrenched state-society tension. Such sentiments that resist ungating collectively create practical and ideological barriers to mitigating housing segregation. China's GCs showcase how private production of civic goods prioritizes market rules and promotes individual values. China's failure in ungating suggests that the prevalence of privately produced communities can justify exclusion, normalize "gated mindsets," and reinforce socioeconomic and spatial inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Planlama is the property of TMMOB Sehir Plancilari Odasi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nowadays, the world is facing a global issue as a result of the depletion of the environment's natural resources. This is a consequence of conventional building techniques that exploit these resources without considering the negative consequences on the environment and the future. This is the reason why there is an urge to preserve these resources for the sake of future generations. Sustainability's main aim is to preserve the environment's natural resources, like water and energy, to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Based on this, the United Nations initiated a global trend to face this challenge through sustainable building. This paper investigates the positive impact of sustainable building on the environment and the users in order to provide a better quality of life. The case study investigates Madinaty city, which is a gated community situated to the east of Cairo city center. Initially, sustainability is analyzed based on global and local criteria, and its impact on the environment and user is evaluated. Based on the global assessment, the results show that Madinaty has succeeded in achieving sustainable design; however, some issues need to be improved such as housing affordability, availability of services, and preserving the cultural heritage. On the local level, all criteria are met except for the balance between supply and demand. When evaluating these results, it is concluded that Madinaty has succeeded in having a positive impact on the environment and the users, eventually providing a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gated communities and gated housing enclaves have primarily been identified as elite spaces of privilege that support self-imposed disaffiliation and spatial and social withdrawal by the affluent. Over the past decade, however, European countries have also seen a rise of gating in large housing estates. Drawing on previous research and a comparative case study that includes interviews, observations, and mapping, this article analyses policies and practices of gating in large housing estates since 2010 in Malmö, Sweden and since 2000 in Paris, France. We argue, first, that gating is legitimised by policy arguments about 'defensible space', by a critique of the modernist design, and by a perceived need for diversification. Secondly, we expand the notion of urban gating and identify four types of enclosure: complete enclosure, semi-enclosure, enclosure through densification, and enclosure of parks and playgrounds. We conclude that the notion of the welfare state has changed, not only in financial terms but also as an urban form, leading to the micro-segregation of housing and land, which makes visible the social stratification within large housing estates. Gating of large housing estates thus leads to 'enclosed communities' rather than 'gated communities'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]