15-Minute Cities: Designing Urban Spaces for Sustainability and Well-Being

15-minute cities are increasing in popularity, but they are not without controversy. What design considerations should authorities apply to maximize sustainability and practicality?

—

The 15-minute city concept is an idea where all residents can walk, bike, or use public transport to reach everyday destinations in no more than 15 minutes. Supporters say developing these options in urban areas could improve people’s health, reduce emissions, and increase community engagement. However, implementing them requires careful planning and ongoing collaboration, especially since individuals often find cities difficult to live in without driving or settling for long bus rides.

This article explores what urban planners should do to overcome these obstacles and how concerned citizens can support them.

Pros and Cons of Existing Destinations

Some urban planners believe the best approach is to build 15-minute cities from scratch. Although that would overcome many obstacles stemming from infrastructure-related shortcomings, it is not always a viable option.

A more accessible solution may be to find locations with obvious potential that still have unworkable downsides. Then, planners can identify characteristics that make cities more or less suitable for the 15-minute urban design concept.

Envisioning the World’s Largest 15-Minute City

David Staley, a professor at the Ohio State University, has detailed his dream of turning the capital Columbus into the world’s largest 15-minute city. Staley is not in an influential city-planning role, but his insights could inspire designers to consider many proposed recommendations and apply them to real-life projects.

For example, he suggested creating neighbourhood microschools containing a maximum of 125 students and locating them along the city’s Capital Line – a dedicated path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Staley also points out that he can bike to the nearest grocery store in about 20 minutes, but the route has almost no protected lanes, and more than half the trip lacks footpaths. These two examples highlight how planners must work to make it easier and safer for people to reach their destinations without cars.

According to him, microhubs are an essential element of the 15-minute city vision. Describing them as featuring managed outdoor areas, retail outlets, schools and offices, Staley suggested making them central to each neighbourhood and prioritizing areas where residents have little or no access to fresh, nutritious food.

Staley acknowledged that Columbus would need to update its zoning laws to permit mixed-use spaces and that success requires extensive resources and a willingness to overcome resistance. Whether challenging or not, examining the factors that contribute to or pose challenges to a future 15-minute city can inspire planners to find feasible solutions.

Design for Accessibility

One of the problems with the 15-minute city is that it assumes people can walk, ride bikes or use public transport to reach their destinations. Reducing car dependence should cause cleaner air and associated health benefits, which is vital considering 7 million people die from air pollution-linked conditions annually. However, some of these options are not always feasible for people with disabilities. Even with adequate public transportation infrastructure, established policies may make using it prohibitively inconvenient.

In some cities, users must book trips in advance and cannot merely turn up at their desired station or stop. It is also all too easy to find examples of those with disabilities who asked for assistance through the proper channels and did not receive it. These outcomes cause considerable stress and disappointment, especially when these failures mean those affected are late to time-sensitive appointments or cannot attend.

Designers can look at examples of 15-minute cities and see how well – or poorly – they work for people with disabilities. An important thing to remember is these individuals are already prevalent in society, and someone can become disabled at any time. Sometimes, ageing causes that result, or disability occurs due to accidents. These realities mean city planners should think ahead and realize better accessibility benefits everyone.

Footpaths in Barcelona

In one case, three researchers in the Spanish city of Barcelona looked at the condition of footpaths, recognizing that when this infrastructure is highly functional and safe, people can use it with mobility aids without worrying that they might trip. 

The trio created a flexible framework that examines the suitability of footpath networks against the limitations of those with moderate mobility constraints. They found that while Barcelona is a pedestrian-friendly city, it does not meet the 15-minute city concept because it does not provide adequate service to those using the footpaths.

Specifically, the framework scores were insufficient in slope, width and pedestrian hazard levels. Addressing these shortcomings would mean creating new locations for essential services and amenities – such as food shops, pharmacies and social-welfare branches – and improving access to existing ones.

Incorporating Sustainable Aspects

Some especially ambitious design teams aspire to build 15-minute cities by revitalizing unused locations. Such is the case in Athens, Greece, where teams are working on an extensive urban regeneration project with a 15-minute city component.

The Ellinikon is a pioneering effort to turn the former site of Athens International Airport into a 15-minute city with shops, workplaces, residents, and cultural activities within a 2-million-square-metre park. The first completed segment surrounds three of the former airport’s historic, listed hangars. It features rain gardens for stormwater management, a conscious use of natural materials, and repurposed surfaces that became benches and paths.

The developers will eventually turn this part of the project into Europe’s largest coastal park, featuring over 31,000 trees representing 86 species and more than one million Mediterranean plants. Additionally, the Ellinikon’s first major landmark is the Riviera Tower, built with a climate-conscious, future-proof design with an advanced biophilic exterior and sustainably designed interiors. These thoughtful considerations show how designers can stay mindful of the planet while working with preexisting site aspects and finding the best ways to create beautiful, enjoyable environments for residents and visitors.

Bringing Amenities Closer to the People

Some opponents of the 15-minute concept worry that these locations could exacerbate community division and inequality if planners do not make them accessible to low-income groups. Although that is one potential downside, these options would likely become more affordable to those who can afford the average cost of living there by allowing them to eliminate once-essential expenses.

In 2022, drivers in the US paying average rates for car insurance had to spend nearly $180 monthly to keep their coverage. Although much of the U.S. is notoriously very car-centric, European residents often have much different experiences, even in smaller cities. Paths for walking and biking are well-maintained, and people can frequently walk or take public transport to virtually every location.

Pedestrian-Friendly Paris

Efforts to turn the French capital of Paris into a 15-minute city show some inspiring and creative approaches to shorten the distances between amenities and those using them. In an article promoting his book, Carlos Moreno – who coined the titular term in 2015 – mentioned some of the strategies that have made the City of Lights more pedestrian-friendly and sustainable.

One was to redevelop places like offices that were only used part of the time into multiuse spaces. A former administrative building now contains a covered market, a preschool, an art gallery and a gym, among other attractions, allowing residents to satisfy many of their needs at a single location.

Additionally, the city now has 200 mini parks created by repurposing spaces to improve access. Residents can now access public school playgrounds on weekends, too.

Supporting the 15-Minute City

Although a 15-minute city is not a cure-all, these examples show it could address many of the issues characterizing modern cities while improving sustainability and people’s well-being. Starting conversations is a good first step, and designers should work around residents’ concerns to make their projects as accessible and equitable as possible.

Residents should remain aware of and attend meetings or other public events about 15-minute cities and give feedback about proposals. Supporting adjacent improvements like public transport expansions and footpath improvements also gets them closer to more convenient ideals, even though it may take years to reach them.

Featured image: Nerea Martí Sesarino/Unsplash.