The concept of “gated community” and its explication in the theory and practice of urban planning: A literature review

Abstract

The research relevance is determined by expanding the meaningful boundaries of the concepts that are actively used in modern urban planning theory and practice. The study aims to reveal and understand the essence of the concept of “gated community”, identify its interrelationships with urban concepts and establish its role in the context of urban planning theory and practice. A comprehensive methodological approach based on a logical and philosophical approach and combining terminological and spatial analyses was used. The study identified the essential features of the concepts of “community” and “gated community”, as well as their relationship with other concepts related to the organisation of the living environment at the territorial level. The definition of the concept of “gated community” is expanded to include the urban planning component. The results of the study indicate that the formation of gated communities can have both a positive and negative impact on urban development. A gated community is proposed to be regarded as a group of objects characterised by a pronounced focus on internal interaction and mutual assistance between its members. Such a definition was preceded by the results of revealing the place and role of “gated communities” in the city structure, identifying the essential features of the initial concepts of “community” and “gated community”, establishing the relationship with the concepts that take place when describing the peculiarities of the organisation of the living environment at the territorial level, as well as the correspondence of the definition of a gated community to its specifics of functioning at the territorial level. It is determined that in urban planning its characteristic features are physical isolation and controlled access. It is clarified that this type of community can lead to the fragmentation of the city into smaller, separate territorial units. The practical value of this work is the possibility of considering its results in the process of developing a city development strategy for the rational organisation of the living environment. In addition, the results can help governing institutions identify the best ways to cooperate with gated communities, ensuring a balance between their needs and the requirements for preserving urban identity and sustainability