Abstract
The rapid emergence and spread of new housing quarters that specifically address middle-class families is a striking feature of current urban development. Despite being located in or near the city centres, many of these ‘family enclaves’ display social and physical characteristics that so far have been firmly associated with suburban living. Against this background, the purpose of this article is twofold. The first objective is to argue from a theoretical perspective that the notion of ‘inner-city suburbanization’ is appropriate and helpful to capture the hybrid and contradictory nature of these projects as well as of many of the current socio-spatial developments in Western metropolitan regions. For this purpose, the paper draws on newer approaches that conceive of (urban or suburban) ways of living as independent of specific (urban or suburban) spaces or places. The second issue, based on empirical research, is then to sketch the essential qualities of newly built middle-class family enclaves and to highlight their propagation as a major characteristic of urban transformation in Germany. Their continuing expansion is interpreted as an expression and catalyst of ongoing processes of inner-city suburbanization. It is asserted that suburbanism has not only made its mark on the outskirts of the cities but is increasingly conquering growing parts of the inner cities as well.
Highlights
In most Western industrialized countries, the development trajectories of urban agglomerations and their interpretations are the subject of intensive and controversial discussion
While the urbanization of the suburbs has been intensely debated for decades (Fishman 1987; Gober 1989; Garreau 1991), the fact that key features of suburbia and suburban life can be found in many cities has received much less scholarly attention, especially in Europe and in Germany
The second issue is to sketch the essential qualities of newly built middle-class family enclaves and to highlight their propagation as a major characteristic of current urban development. Their continuing expansion will be interpreted as an expression and catalyst of ongoing processes of inner-city suburbanization
Summary
In most Western industrialized countries, the development trajectories of urban agglomerations and their interpretations are the subject of intensive and controversial discussion. The first objective is to explain from a qualitative and relational theoretical viewpoint why the notion of ‘inner-city suburbanization’ is appropriate and helpful to capture the hybrid and contradictory nature of many of the current socio-spatial developments To this end, I refer to newer approaches that conceive of (urban or suburban) ways of living as independent of specific (urban or suburban) spaces or places. The second issue is to sketch the essential qualities of newly built middle-class family enclaves and to highlight their propagation as a major characteristic of current urban development Their continuing expansion will be interpreted as an expression and catalyst of ongoing processes of inner-city suburbanization. I draw on countless informal talks with other parents in my daily life at home and at work.
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