Trends in Development of Residential Areas in Suburban Zone of the City of Nitra (Slovakia)

Political changes in Slovakia after 1989 initiated new economic trends which significantly affected the structure of cities and rural municipalities. The process of suburbanization has changed the rural landscape with a widespread increase in new residential areas. Based on an analysis of residential suburbanization, the aim of the paper is to describe the encroachment of residential construction in the suburban zone of Nitra through increase in the size of the housing stock, number of housing types and the spatial localization of suburban construction. Such analysis of residential development contributes to the knowledge of the extent and intensity of the residential suburbanization process in the outskirts of the city of Nitra. Theoretical analysis of residential suburbanization is based on the relevant literature, placing it into context alongside the works of authors from Western and Central Europe. The research is based on standard geographical methods including field research. To compare the changes in residential areas aerial photos from 2001 and 2015 were used. Results show that in the municipalities of the suburban zone significant changes have occurred in the building sprawl, thus changing the face of rural municipalities and the character of the rural landscape.