From the pursuit of a secure environment reserved to exclusive members to the tendency of the most privileged to secede (Le Goix, 2001, 2006), from the desire of having one’s own space to the will of privatising privileged sites (Smithsimon, 2010), from the specter of a fragmented town to the world’s worst possible nightmare (Fullilove, 2005), the diffusion of private and closed residential enclaves often appear as a grim presence lurking over the future of cities and their capacity to constitute society (Low, 2003; Charmes, 2005). Gated communities define, in terms of territory, the outlines of a post-modern sociality blending individualism and the wish for a secluded environment.

Despite these criticisms, this “generic real estate product” (Bagaeen, Uduku, 2010) does not cease to attract clients who, as well as securing their living environment, seek to find within this product an idealised and contractualised incarnation of the communal way of life. And whilst they appeared some 15 years ago as a strictly American peculiarity, the closed architectural and town-planning models have appeared in Europe with their own local characteristics since (Paquot, 2009).

This conference seeks to deepen the understanding of these private and closed residential spaces by following three main themes:

Logics of action and systems of actors. The first theme seeks to document the contexts in which the strategies at the origin of these spatial forms are deployed. Through case studies, we will seek further understanding of the beginnings of private and closed residential spaces by focussing on the different arbitrations made by both private and public figures who allowed their implantation. We will also attempt to identify the tools the producers of the city have at their disposal in order to structure these spaces. We will try to explain the ways in which the territory operators integrate both the aspirations of a population wishing to move into this type of neighbourhood and the need to constitute a society.

Diffusion of an architectural and town-planning model: the object of the second theme brings together contributions with the intention of discussing not only the circulation of a generic architectural model, but also its hybridisation in particular contexts. We will pay particular attention here to local forms based on this generic model, while trying to clarify processes that led to these hybrid forms. The approaches could be morphological, but also semeiological or even comprehensive. Communications clarifying the economic origins of such hybridisations are also expected. Contributions could also contain a historical dimension to show how this “spatiotype” implants itself in a certain way with nature, or with low density etc.

Being amongst themselves: the last theme seeks to thematise these spaces in their everyday nature. The contributions related to this theme should seek to debate the questions of how these spaces constitute the repository of specific forms of sociability, ways of living that occur in these spaces, collective projects that develop there or ways of creating society in these locations.  We will show how these places are (or are not) strictly exclusive spaces, what their communal aspect consists of; in what sense they are (or are not) places where a paradoxical collectivism occurs. The residential projects and aspirations of the inhabitants of these areas could also be a basis for future possible investigation.

Submitting a proposal

Written proposals in English or French should be submitted by e-mail (colloque (at) braillard [dot] ch) by the 18th of October 2010. The document should contain a title, a summary of 600 to 800 words (maximum), 5 keywords as well as the name, the institution, the postal and electronic address of the author(s). The summary should include a theoretical framework and an outline of problems. Mention of a methodological framework, of a work area and of expected results is recommended.

After an evaluation has been carried out by the Scientific Committee, the authors will be informed of the acceptance or the refusal of their proposal from the 15th of November 2010. The researchers retained will have to deliver – by 28th February 2011 –, an article of approximately 3’500 words (summary and bibliography included). After evaluation by the Scientific Committee, some authors will have the possibility to publish an extended version of their contribution in a peer reviewed scientific journal.

Scientific organisation

Fondation Braillard Architectes, Geneva. Founded in 1987, Fondation Braillard Architectes (FBA) is active in the fields of research in urban studies and city sciences, valorisation and conservation of the architectural heritage of the 20th century and aid towards innovative achievements in terms of architecture and urbanism.

Institute of Geography at the University of Lausanne (Observatoire de la ville et du développement durable). The university observatory of the city and of sustainable development conducts research in urban theory, analysis of urban regimes and their social, spatial and environmental incidences, urban production and project urbanism.

Institute of Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva (Globalisation, Urbanism and Governance Group). The Institute of Environmental Sciences (ISE) in an inter-faculty entity of the University of Geneva created in March 2009. The ISE’s purpose is for the teaching and interdisciplinary research in various fields of the environment, in particular urbanism and governance.

Organisation committee

Rémi Baudoui, Urbanism and Governance, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva.

Christophe Mager, Institute of Geography, University of Lausanne.

Laurent Matthey, Fondation Braillard Architectes, Geneva.

Fees

The registration fee of 80 Swiss francs covers meal costs and documentation for the conference.

Schedule