Dynamics of urban segregation Vila Leopoldina. From sesmarias to gated communities

Abstract

Objective: To examine the dynamics of spatial urban segregation based on studies of the transformations in the urban form that have taken place in the district of Vila Leopoldina, and to also examine transformations in the way of thinking and planning the city of São Paulo.

Methodology: Comparing concepts taken from well-known studies on the city of São Paulo with historical cartographies of the municipality where Vila Leopoldina is registered with urban subdivision projects submitted to the public authorities in the district and with images and data on new residential developments.

Relevance: In the examination of how spatial segregation is formed throughout the history of the occupation of the Vila Leopoldina neighborhood and to increase urban studies on the location.

Results: Segregation and isolation are found to be a basic premise in the construction of the city. This is shown through the lack of execution of urban projects of public interest, a relevant reduction in public spaces due to misappropriation of public spaces such as squares and streets, and the absence of the element of the block in urban composition.

Theoretical and methodological contributions: The work contributes to the publication of subdivision projects present in municipal archives. In addition to presenting the comparison of information from four well-known authors about the city and identifying the direct results of laws and plans in urban spaces.

Social contributions: This article adds to the understanding of spatial segregation at the neighborhood scale by quantifying lost public spaces, and by verifying the contemporary characteristics of physical segregation given by new real estate projects.