15-Minute Cities – The Future of Urban Living; Part 1 of 2: From Historical Roots to Contemporary Resurgence

The historic concept of 15-minute communities has been making a resurgence globally across city planning authorities and citizens. From Paris's bold reimagining of its ‘15-minute city’ urban fabric to Ottawa's groundbreaking inclusion of the ‘15-minute neighbourhood’ concept in its official plan, cities worldwide are embracing this historic urban model. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group's endorsement helped re-positioning the concept as a cornerstone of post-pandemic urban recovery and sustainable development.

The 15-minute city concept centres around planning urban areas wherein most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from any point in the city.

This approach is fundamental to improving the quality of urban life and well-being, reducing car dependency, and promoting healthy and sustainable living. As urban populations surge – with 68% of the world's population projected to live in urban areas by 2050 – the 15-minute city model offers a sustainable solution to pressing urban challenges.

This article, the first of a two-part series, explores the historical roots, and benefits, and traces contemporary research and thinking on the 15-minute city concept. Part 2 will delve into contemporary international implementations and challenges of this transformative urban model.

Key Takeaways

• Historical cities naturally evolved as walkable communities, setting validated precedents for contemporary 15-minute city planning.
• 15-minute cities offer multifaceted benefits, from improved health and safety to environmental sustainability and economic vitality.
• Contemporary urbanism is witnessing the resurgence of the 15-minute city concept and it's revitalizing existing neighbourhoods and shaping new liveable communities.

1. Historical Foundations

The 15-minute city concept’s roots can be traced to pre-modern urban planning traditions  Historically, 18th  and 19th century settlements were inherently designed around slower modes of transport – pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles. This necessity fostered tighter urban densities and accessibility.

Manhattan

A prominent historic example is Manhattan’s high-density walkability. Its grid system, established in the early 19th century, created a navigable structure conducive to pedestrian movement. The compact nature of neighbourhoods like Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side, combined with mixed-use zoning, has long allowed residents to access essentials within walking distance, embodying 15-minute city principles before the term was coined.

Paris

Paris has been a walkable city for centuries. Baron Haussmann's mid-19th-century urban renewal programme, during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, created wide new boulevards, a network of smaller streets, parks and public works that enhanced pedestrian flow. The city's arrondissement system naturally divided Paris into self-contained neighbourhoods. Traditional Parisian cafés, markets, and shops on ground floors of residential buildings have long supported a walkable lifestyle.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam, exemplifies a naturally evolved 15-minute city within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This exceptionally well-preserved 15th-century Southeast Asian trading port features centuries-old temples and streets, creating a highly walkable urban environment. Residents and visitors can access diverse amenities, from traditional markets to historical sites, within short distances, embodying the core principles of accessibility and proximity, central to the 15-minute city concept.

Moving on to the early 20th century, in the 1920s, Clarence Perry, an American urban planner and sociologist, devised the neighbourhood unit plan, a residential community scheme of designing self-contained residential neighbourhoods promoting a community-centric lifestyle, away from the noise and pollution of industrial precincts. Perry’s neighbourhood unit plan became a framework for urban planners attempting to design functional, self-contained and desirable neighbourhoods in the early-mid 20th century.

The austere land-use segregation of Modern Land Use Planning and Sub-urbanism of the mid-20th century brought about the realisation of the negative impact of its car-oriented urban sprawl, homogenous single-use districts, and reducing and unsafe public realms. In this context, Jane Jacobs, an American-Canadian journalist, author, and activist, best known for her influential book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), supported the diversity and complexity of old, dense, mixed-use neighbourhoods.

In the 1980s, similar pedestrian-centred principles became central to urban movements of the time – New Urbanism, transit-oriented development (ToD), and mixed-use commmunity proposals –  all promoting walkability, mixed-use developments, and compact, liveable communities.

2. Benefits of 15-Minute Cities

The 15-minute city model offers a multitude of benefits that address contemporary urban challenges.

Health and Well-being

One of the most significant advantages is improved physical and mental health. Regular walking and cycling for daily activities provide natural exercise, reducing the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Safety

Pedestrian-oriented streets promote natural surveillance, enhancing safety for all age groups. Jane Jacobs' concept of "eyes on the street" comes to life in 15-minute cities, where active street fronts and mixed-use developments create a constant community presence.

Environmental Sustainability

By reducing dependence on motor vehicles, 15-minute cities significantly cut carbon emissions. Barcelona's superblocks initiative, for instance, is projected to reduce air pollution by 25% in implemented areas.

Economic Vitality

Street-front retail and small to medium-scale businesses thrive in 15-minute cities. A study by the American Public Transportation Association found that property values performed significantly better on average if they were located near public transportation with high-frequency service.

Urban Identity and Social Cohesion

Vibrant streets and public realms foster a strong sense of community and urban pride. Face-to-face interactions in local shops and public spaces strengthen social bonds and reduce isolation.

Transportation Efficiency

By prioritizing walking, cycling, and public transit, 15-minute cities reduce traffic congestion and the need for extensive car infrastructure. The 15-minute city model aligns with the prioritisation of more sustainable urban transport systems by creating compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods, thereby reducing car dependency and effectively integrating public transport networks.

Resilience

The self-contained nature of 15-minute neighborhoods enhances urban resilience, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic when local services became crucial.

3. Contemporary Resurgence of ‘15-Minute City’ Urbanism

The 15-minute city concept has gained significant momentum in contemporary urban planning, building upon the inherent strengths of historical urban designs while addressing modern challenges. In 2020, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group published a framework for cities to "build back better" using the 15-minute concept highlighting the importance of adjusting city plans and infrastructure to encourage dense, complete, overall communities. In recent times, there have been several key proponents of the 15-minute city concept:

• Carlos Moreno’s '15-Minute City' (book) – Moreno, a Franco-Colombian scientist and professor advocated the ‘Ville du quart d’heure’ or 15-Minute City concept based on urban residents fulfilling six essential functions within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their dwellings - living, working, commerce, healthcare, education, and entertainment.

• Rene Mulbery’s '15-Minute City' (book) – Mulbery offers a balanced critique of the 15-minute city concept, examining its potential benefits and drawbacks. The book explores concerns about social control, economic impacts, and potential limits on freedom of movement, while also acknowledging the model's promise for sustainability and community cohesion.

• Natalie Whittle’s '15-Minute City' (book) – Whittle examines how the 15-minute city model can catalyze global urban transformation. Through case studies and expert insights, she illustrates how focusing on local, community-centered living can address global challenges like climate change and social inequality while improving urban livability and resilience.

• Jeff Speck’s 'Walkable City' (book) – Speck presents a compelling case for walkable urban design as a solution to various city problems. He outlines practical steps to create pedestrian-friendly downtowns, arguing that such designs can boost local economies, improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the overall quality of life in urban areas.

• Kent Larson's 20-minute city – Larson envisioned cities as networks of high-performance, resilient communities and developed a simulation platform for integrating design, technology, and policy interventions into ‘compact urban cells’.

• Luca D'Acci's 1-mile green city – D'Acci' proposed ‘Isobenefit Urbanism’ where residents can reach natural areas, jobs, centralities, shops, and daily activities within 15-30 minutes walking or 15 minutes biking.

• Weng's 15-minute walkable neighbourhood – Weng focused on health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods, highlighting disparities in walkable areas within Shanghai

• Da Silva's 20-minute city – Da Silva examined accessibility within 20 minutes by walking, biking, or transit, advocating for essential services to be reachable within that.

Inheritance of the 15-Minute Urban Structure

Many historic cities, planned 1-2 centuries ago, already benefit from their pre-existing higher-density urban structure. Cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Vienna continue to charm residents and visitors alike with their walkable communities, requiring minimal contemporary interventions. Their pre-existing human-scale, low-rise built forms facilitate natural surveillance and communication, while visual corridors aid orientation and urban identity.

Development Approach Ahead

In the realm of new urban development, the 15-minute city concept has become a cornerstone of planning and design. From eco-districts in France to smart city projects in South Korea, urban planners are prioritizing proximity and accessibility. These new communities are marketed as lifestyle choices, appealing to a growing demographic increasingly aware of the links between urban design, well-being, and quality of life.

Moreover, the concept is proving adaptable to various urban contexts. From dense megacities to smaller towns, planners are finding ways to implement 15-minute city principles, tailoring the approach to local needs and existing urban fabrics.

Conclusion

The 15-minute city concept represents a transformational shift in urban planning, prioritizing human-scale design and quality of life. By learning from historical urban patterns and adapting them to contemporary needs, this model offers a promising solution to many urban challenges.

As explored in this 1st part of our series, the 15-minute city concept is rooted in the walkable designs of historical cities. It offers numerous benefits, from improved health and safety to environmental sustainability and economic vitality. Contemporary urban planning is increasingly embracing this model, as evidenced by successful implementations worldwide.

In Part 2, we explore the growing contemporary international implementation of this transformative 15-minute city model, exploring challenges and strategies in its implementation.

About the Author

Rupak Chatterjee is a strategist in Urban Planning, Master Planning & Place Making.

He has a 'city-walks' blog, a heritage-destination blog, an AI-themed YouTube channel for youth, and has authored 'Youth to Infinity' – a book on youth success principles.