Is New Urbanism a Marker of Urban Fragmentation? Reflections on the Intentionality of New Professional Practices and Inhabitant Representations
American-style New Urbanism (NU) has been the subject of numerous articles and books, all expressing viewpoints significantly divergent from one another. For some, NU is a marker of urban and social fragmentation, particularly in gated communities: others see this marker as a planning strategy in search of an alternative to the traditional housing complex, which is based on the detached garden-ringed house and is largely responsible for urban sprawl. This article opts for the second interpretation in the form of an analysis centred on urban compactness and the revitalization of public space neighbourhoods –an intention appropriated by the NU Charter and recognized by the resident population. It concludes that the effects of the logic intrinsic to the property market should be distinguished from the intentionality of professional practices and inhabitant representations, in order to interpret the NU and to reflect on sustainable urban development.