Gated Communities in Latin America. The case of Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil

In this paper the issue of Gated Communities in Latin America is presented through the study of cases in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. After forty years of a strong influence of this foreign model that permeated this type of urban formations, this article seeks to answer the question: how did this model come to these countries and which common features are found in its approach? As a consequence the actions of private entities are recognized which for their construction and sale have defined common patterns that are characterized by multiple infrastructures, equipment and a high level of self-sufficiency. This groups one type of community to whom a family life is offered with the amenities and safety related to the purchasing power of the highest class inside the city, but that in turn deals with high levels of social exclusion. Thus, cases such as that of Palmares Urban residential complex set in Mendoza, Argentina, Lomas de Chapultepec in Mexico City, Hacienda Fontanar in Bogota, Colombia, and Alphaville in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are typical examples of this urban model.