In urban design, suburbs can be a contentious topic. That is in part because the term lends itself to nebulous and ever-changing definitions. In its simplest form, the suburbs are residential communities within commuting distance, located a fair bit away from the heart of metropolitan areas. The American context sees suburbs viewed with some hostility, with racist ‘redlining’ practices a dark legacy to particular suburbs in the country. In a more superficial sense, American suburbs have often been criticised for their uniformity in appearance – portrayed as soulless dwellings absent of a sense of community.
When we pan out and explore the phenomenon of suburbia in a global context, conflicting meanings begin to take shape. Mumbai's urban condition, for instance, is a story of two types of suburbs. Mahul to the eastern part of the metropolis is an area where pollution has caused health issues for its population, while suburbs like Bandra are home to a more upscale clientele –home to a host of major banks. Casablanca in Morocco harbours a similar suburb dynamic, where suburbs like Ain Diab feature trendy restaurants and suburbs like Sidi Moumen have historically been more deprived.
