Gated Communities

Gated Communitiespresents a collection of new writings by an international and interdisciplinary group of contributors, which provides a historic, socio-political and contemporary cultural perspective of gated communities. The book provides a different lens through which to view the historical vernacular background of the now global phenomenon. It reviews current thinking on gated communities, and considers the sustainability issues that these contemporary lifestyle communities raise. The authors argue that there are links that can be drawn between the historic gated homesteads and cities, found in much of the world, and today's Western-style secure complexes. Global examples of gated communities, and their historical context, are presented in this book. The authors also comment on how sustainability issues have impacted these communities. The book concludes by considering how the historic measures up with the contemporary in terms of sustainability function and aesthetic. This accessible book is essential reading for students, architects, planners, geographers, economists, politicians, city managers and interested citizens.

Samer Bagaeen is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the MSc in Town Planning at the University of Brighton. Ola Uduku is Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture at the Edinburgh College of Art.