Paper long abstract:

Walls, fences and barriers are distinctive elements of gated communities. These developments have proliferated in cities worldwide over the last three decades, becoming part of the urban landscape. In many cases, they evidence urban social inequalities in the territory by preventing social interaction between gated community residents and residents living in the surrounding areas.

This paper analyses the findings of a qualitative research on the social practices of gated community residents in Argentina as well as the practices of the residents of the area surrounding these gated communities. It considers to what extend these two groups perform similar social practices that could lead to their social integration despite of living separated through physical elements.