Gated communities - gated residential areas behind walls or fences - are a hotly contested urban phenomenon. Many scholars and policymakers are critical, seeing gated communities as symbols of the relentless power of neoliberalism, driven by commercial segregation and the desire of affluent urban dwellers in particular to cut themselves off from the rest of the city. Despite these criticisms, the number of gated communities around the world is growing rapidly. Indeed, in many countries, gated communities are a more or less accepted and integral part of urban society, especially among citizens.
This research delves into the contradictory world of the gated community. It does not stop at the wall, but goes inside to map the daily life, the experiences and feelings of residents and workers there. This is important because gated communities are not only physical construction projects but also affective places where people shape their (daily) lives. However, this life has hardly been described so far.
Through ethnographic fieldwork in two gated communities in Istanbul and Madrid, this research provides unique insight into ordinary life in these walled residential areas. This everyday perspective then offers new insights into the functioning of gated communities and their position in the city. Is the gated community really that closed off?
Simone Pekelsma (Leiden, 1984) has a background in European Studies, Turkish Studies and urban geography. Simone has always combined her broad, interdisciplinary academic interests with a practical approach and a love of writing and storytelling. During her Turkish Studies, she worked as a researcher and consultant for the Nicis Institute and the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN). Before starting her PhD, she worked as a freelance urban researcher and consultant involved in a wide range of urban issues. In 2019, Simone joined Utrecht University as a knowledge broker in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning. She discovered that she loves making connections between science, education and the world of practice, and connecting the three through meaningful collaborations and exchanges. In 2021, Simone became managing director of Future Food Utrecht, a position she still holds.