New landscapes : gated housing estates in the Lisbon metropolitan area

Abstract. This paper examines the main features of the social production process of condomínios fechados across the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. This residential form first appeared in Portugal in the 1980's and spread quickly in the 1990's. The article opens with a preliminary analysis of the development of secured residential complexes, aimed at understanding its specificity and pinpointing the main factors involved in its social production. In this analysis, we do not focus on the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) alone but rather adopt a broader approach. In the second chapter we describe the research methods used, such as a survey of condomínios fechados built in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area between 1985 and 1999, interviews with social actors and content analysis of promotional materials. Finally, we present selected research results and discuss several issues central to understanding the social production of gated housing estates in the LMA, including the importance of foreign modeis, the supply side agency of the real estate market, and the broader social context.