Beyond the Gates: Gated Communities: the end of civilisation of urban integration beyond the wall?

Gated communities form a strongly contested urban phenomenon. Despite this contestation in both academia and policy, this form of gating in an urban context is a rapidly growing phenomenon. However, there is very little research into the lived practices and experiences of those living inside gated communities. This study takes a thorough look under the bonnet of gated communities, diving into their daily experiences, patterns, conceptions, and beliefs. It explores the everyday lives of the people living and working in, or visiting these communities. This exploration is realised through ethnographic fieldwork in two gated communities in Istanbul and Madrid. The findings of this study may inspire future gated community designs and practices, reorienting them to more socially just ends, while at the same time encouraging thinking about urban life with gated communities or other forms of gating.