Reinterpreting Privacy and Community: Social and Spatial Transformations from Traditional Arabian Neighbourhoods to Contemporary Gated Communities

[thumbnail of buildings-15-01111.pdf]
Preview
buildings-15-01111.pdf - Published Version (7MB) | Preview
Available under license: Creative Commons Attribution

Hammad, Ahmed ORCID: 0009-0006-7848-8116, Li, Mengbi ORCID: 0000-0001-7499-8940 and Vrcelj, Zora ORCID: 0000-0002-1403-7416 (2025) Reinterpreting Privacy and Community: Social and Spatial Transformations from Traditional Arabian Neighbourhoods to Contemporary Gated Communities. Buildings, 15 (7). ISSN 2075-5309

Abstract

Gated communities have been widely examined as a contemporary urban phenomenon, yet their emergence in the Middle East reflects broader socioeconomic and cultural transformations rather than a direct continuation of historical spatial practices. Historically, Arabian cities featured compact, human-scaled urban layouts with walled perimeters, narrow streets, and shared courtyards, fostering social cohesion, security, and communal interaction. These spatial characteristics evolved organically, balancing privacy with integration to meet communal needs. This article examines the historical evolution of enclosed neighbourhoods in Arabian cities and their sociospatial connections to modern gated communities, assessing their impact on urban sustainability. By employing historical inquiry, this study investigates how traditional principles, such as privacy, community resilience, and spatial hierarchy, have been inherited, reinterpreted, or redefined in contemporary developments. Findings indicate that historical Arabian cities reinforced internal cohesion and self-governance, whereas modern gated communities introduce deliberate spatial and social segregation, disrupting urban connectivity and weakening social sustainability. The study highlights critical implications for urban planning, suggesting that integrating historical spatial principles can create inclusive and adaptable contemporary developments.

Dimensions Badge

Altmetric Badge

Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/49350
DOI 10.3390/buildings15071111
Official URL https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071111
Subjects Current > FOR (2020) Classification > 3302 Building
Current > FOR (2020) Classification > 4702 Cultural studies
Current > Division/Research > Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login