Abstract
Abstract. This paper examines the main features of the social production process of condomínios fechados across the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. This residential form first appeared in Portugal in the 1980's and spread quickly in the 1990's. The article opens with a preliminary analysis of the development of secured residential complexes, aimed at understanding its specificity and pinpointing the main factors involved in its social production. In this analysis, we do not focus on the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) alone but rather adopt a broader approach. In the second chapter we describe the research methods used, such as a survey of condomínios fechados built in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area between 1985 and 1999, interviews with social actors and content analysis of promotional materials. Finally, we present selected research results and discuss several issues central to understanding the social production of gated housing estates in the LMA, including the importance of foreign modeis, the supply side agency of the real estate market, and the broader social context.
Highlights
Teaching of Geography - relevant questions - Which regions are the most probable historical origins of gated housing estates and how can the histor¬ ical dimension contribute to the overall explanation of the phenomeno
It should be noted that probably from the beginning, and surely since the romantic suburb form, gated housing estates have simultaneously been a unique form of segregation, enforced both practically and symbolically, and a commodity, an established commercial formula driven by real estate developers, able to be replicated wherever social conditions create the opportunity (Fishman 1987)
We identified a total of 97 newly developed gated housing estates in the Lisbon Metro¬ politan Area (LMA), distributed across just ten municipalities
Summary
We analyse the two dimen¬ sions we believe hold greatest relevance to the gated housing estate phenomenon in general and which contribute most to studying its social production. It should be noted that probably from the beginning, and surely since the romantic suburb form, gated housing estates have simultaneously been a unique form of segregation, enforced both practically and symbolically, and a commodity, an established commercial formula driven by real estate developers, able to be replicated wherever social conditions create the opportunity (Fishman 1987). If we compare the first and the second editions of the phenomenon we can find several contextual similarities, despite the fact that space and society have changed a lot since and that the actual geography of the phenomenon is much more diversified and ample (for more specific references, see Raposo 2002) We believe it should not be taken as incidental that the second edition of the phenomenon started in the USA nor that it once again happened at a time of rapid, deep social and spatial change, and even of epochal transition. All of these observations may help us to understand why Anglo-American cities were the unique platform for the first edition of gated housing estates and why this phenomenon has again been able to take foot in society today worldwide, including in Portugal
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
