The role of organized cottage settlements in suburbanization processes in post-Soviet Russia

Abstract

The patterns of the establishment of organized cottage settlements in suburban areas around Russia’s major cities are described, particularly the evolution of the types and sizes of organized cottage settlements, as well as shifts in their spatial organization and people’s lifestyles. A special emphasis is placed on the analysis of the Moscow region, where cottage suburbs are most widespread; specific aspects of cottage settlements in New Moscow are shown. Cottage suburbia in Russia formed via the diffusion of innovations from capitals. After the process started in Moscow, cottage suburbs emerged around St. Petersburg and later, after the mid-2000’s, in other major cities and resort areas, especially on the Black sea coast. As was the case with Moscow, the formation of cottage suburbia began in the near zone of suburban area with further gradual expansion. Nearly all large Russian cities have their own prestigious “Rublevka”, and many of them have numerous cottage settlements within city borders. The post-crisis period is marked by a shift from cottages for the elite to settlements aimed at wider groups of the middle class, which stimulated suburbanization.