Due to rapid demographic change, economic modernization for the last twenty years and advancing privatization of public space a new form of residential facility has emerged. The advent of the „Gated Community” is a phenomenon mainly found in emerging nations, which attempts to protect its residents against potentially criminal influences from outside through measures such as walls, electric fencing and security personnel.
To contervail problems due to restricted space and ecological aftermath of expanding urbanization in chinese metropolises, new building measures have to be put in place, which are able to utilize the available space in the best possible way, to stem the arising overpopulation. To accomplish this, traditional and shabby residential areas must give way to modern and space saving high-rise buildings.
These safeguarded residential areas are typically referred to as „Gated Community”. Following the “ideal western benchmark”, these communities are visually characterized by appearingly paradisical recreation areas and stereotipicially slick architecture, which combines a conglomerate of architectural styles. This illustrates the current state of the growing middle-class, which tries to seperate itself through segregation. The origin and spreading of this phenomenon is scientifically barely documented.
With a special focus on this emerging domestic culture I look behind the walls of a „Gated Community” in the chinese megacity Shanghai. At this I will not address the residents, but rather put my focus on those who act in the background and are responsible for key issues such as security, maintenance and supplies. The combination of photographs showing areas of construction and demolishment, displays the ruthless interference in historical built-up areas. Visualized in a bright, reserved transcendent picture language, man stands emtionally barred from this construct and subconsciously isolates himself.
In combination with shots in the space of recreational areas and a number of images showing residential areas, as well as zones under construction and demolishment in urban environment, an appraisal is realized, which documents the continuing development and constant transformation of the landscape.