SUBURBAN SPACES RESEARCH: APPROACHES, CRITERIA, CONCEPTUALISATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/2413-7154/2025.93.74-92Keywords:
city, suburbia, suburbanisation, transformation of suburban spaces, functions of suburban areas, everyday practicesAbstract
The article presents an analysis of conceptual approaches to the study of spatial processes in suburban areas, defining the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the suburbs. It highlights the features of suburbanisation in the world and Ukraine, conceptualises the definition of suburban zones. The analysis is based on methods of comparison, generalisation, and systematisation of foreign and Ukrainian research in the field of suburban development. It has been determined that the suburbs of large cities develop along different trajectories, are heterogeneous, and have socio-spatial characteristics specific to each city. To identify these characteristics, such approaches as location, characteristics of buildings, transport, territory functions, political, social, transformations, historical, indices, motivation, migrations, and behavioural are applicable. It was determined that the uneven development of the suburbs is caused by different factors: history of territory growth; legislation regarding urban management policies; socio-economic development; demographic features, population migrations; social mentality, trends regarding lifestyle; national strategic approaches to spatial development; features of regional management. The stages of urbanisation in the world and post-socialist cities have been analyzed. Specific features of the transformation of suburban spaces in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, and particularly in Ukraine, under market conditions have been identified. The characteristics of residential and commercial suburbanisation, as well as the functions of suburban zones, have been analysed. Approaches to the analysis of everyday practices of suburbia dwellers as indicators of suburban lifestyles have been highlighted. Criteria for the typology of suburbia have been determined, and the morphological structure of suburban zones has been presented.
First received: 6 May 2025
Accepted: 9 June 2025
Published: 12 June 2025
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