In Bucharest, the urban problems inherited from the socialist period were suddenly magnified in the 90s by a tortuous process of property restitution, unbridled land liberalization, unfunded decentralization and lack of global planning. In a short time, the 2 million inhabitants' capital has lost roughly 10% of its population, experiencing the radical leap from the socialist model, based upon social and spatial justice, to the neo-liberal agenda promoting deregulation and competition. Extending the Romanian capital to the north thus led to the three-stage construction of closed residential complexes built in disregard of the basic rules of land use (lack of roads, etc.). Angered by congestion and inadequate housing, and longing for comfort similar to that enjoyed by the affluent in major Western cities, many inhabitants of Bucharest have taken up residence in the area between the brand new World Trade Center and the Baneasa Airport. Developers eager to take advantage of less restrictive zoning and the appetite for the unrestrained application of liberal precepts have invested in this area which is particularly attractive because of its preserved natural environment and its proximity to the Otopeni International Airport. These closed residential complexes aim at ensuring the winners of the transition and integration into the European Union a lifestyle described as "among our own" reflect both the new extreme social polarization and the breakdown of the urban fabric of the Romanian capital.
