Objects of privacy: the residential suburban front fence: a study of the suburban residential front fence of Wellington

Abstract

Building fences around private property is an interesting phenomenon in New Zealand. The front fence however is somewhat different from the fence between neighbours, as it directly relates to the community of the neighbourhood. It can be symbolic of how a resident regards their community, even reflecting the larger values of the society we live in. The purpose of this research was to test if the front fence can be regarded as architecture. If it can be classified as an architectural element, what does it contain and what is its purpose in terms of space, demarcation, security, symbolism, form and materials? This study found that the front fence protects a buffer zone between the private and the public areas of residential life. It was also found that the fence plays an important role in facilitating privacy. This did not necessarily mean a physical wall for isolating the inside, but as a symbol of the need to find privacy. It was discovered that contemporary front fences displayed scepticism of this symbolism. In terms of demarcation, the front fence is one of the first and most important parts of creating place, yet as needs change can become unnecessary, being replaced by other means of creating place such as car parks or other buildings.