The practice of Dhamma, and in particular meditation, is of interest primarily to residents of large cities. There are several reasons for this, but we are not talking about them now. Sooner or later, a practitioner looks for like-minded people to share experiences and a sense of camaraderie and support from the group. For such meetings, for example, someone's apartment or house can be used, and a larger and more affluent group can buy real estate for common use. For example, the Dalmas in Moscow has long served as such a place, and there was an extensive house with a garden in London, where local Buddhists invited Ajahn Sumedho and a group of monks in 1977.
Due to its location near the city center, its accessibility to all comers, such a place retains its "liveliness": you can go there after work to meditate or chat with friends, borrow a book from the library or invite a teacher to give a lecture. However, such conditions are too stressful for monks, and at the first opportunity the Sangha seeks to move away from the city and closer to nature, into silence and solitude. For laypeople, a monastery or retreat center outside the city is also a place where they can take a break from the hustle and bustle and deepen their meditation practice.
However, gradually the connection between the residents of the city and the inhabitants of the monastery weakens, people find less time for long-distance trips, and the importance of the urban center becomes obvious again. For example, the forest monasteries of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Buddhadasa have their centers in Bangkok, and the "Archive of Buddhadasa" is a very active and sought-after place.
