The effects of walls in the suburbs of Johannesburg
Date
2009-10-29T12:51:46Z
Authors
Parker, Alexandra Mary
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Abstract
Gated communities use walls and fences to enclose spaces and divide suburbs.
However, walls exist in many forms and are most commonly found surrounding freestanding
houses. The walls of gated communities have been debated in isolation,
ignoring the current wall conditions of free-standing houses in Johannesburg’s
suburbs. This study compares the visual, spatial and functional effects of the walls
of gated communities and the walls of free-standing houses to reveal how they
affect our experiences of suburbs and our perceptions of people.
Three suburbs/ case studies in Johannesburg were chosen for their very different
wall conditions. The physical attributes of the wall were documented and interviews
were conducted to understand the perceptions of the wall on both sides; from the
outside and from within the walls. The boundary wall masks the house from view
and can prevent passive surveillance but it can also act as a sign and express the
individual. The two types of walls are found to be no different from one another,
physically and very few negative perceptions of walls were revealed.