Figure 4 - Prescriptive Elements of Moreno's 15-minute city framework

Figure 4 - Prescriptive Elements of Moreno's 15-minute city framework (Source: Moreno et. al., 2021)

a. Building Density: Moreno observed the challenges that city managers had to face during the height of COVID-19 pandemic spread of cases and the subsequent health measures adopted to mitigate those measures.(Moreno et al., 2021, p. 101)

This corner stones of the Fifteen-minute city offer a ‘realistic alternative’ for urban areas, a they prepare to embrace the ‘new normal’.

As per Moreno, Density is a crucial dimension on which cities should be built and have a direct link to travel and diversity. The proponent opines that in conventional planning density is viewed in terms of ‘ultra-high-density buildings’ but in his concept, density is viewed in terms of people per sq.km. (Moreno, et al. p.102)

Further explanation clears that the author is hinting at providing optimal density where the population in each area can sustain comfortably in terms of urban service delivery and resource consumption. He further asserts that in the previous planning models which emphasised on creating ultra-high-rise buildings and offices has given rise to increased over-consumption of resources including fossil fuel energy.

It’s highlighted that with optimal density, it is possible to provide all the essentials

that can be accessible to residents nearby thus saving time and energy (used in automobiles).

The author (Moreno, et al. pp.102-103) further identified the advantages of Density as follows,

-Optimal density shall pave way for locally based solutions for energy generation, food supply and plural use of spaces. -Density dimension shall allow creation of public infrastructures such as bicycle lanes and walkable pathway shall promote the achievement of ‘6 social functions’ put forward by the author. -Density shall also allow for social and spatial equites of different areas, different communities with different background and economic status. It shall particularly favour the disadvantaged, through an equitable distribution of services. -Density shall also help provide services at a reduced cost for cities, thus creating a high value for governments and investors. Therefore, density is a key driver for social sustainability and when integrated with proximity, diversity and digitalization.

b. Proximity: The author views dimension of proximity in temporal and spatial values.

Within the 15-minute radial nodes (as represented in the figure 2) residents shall be able to meet their social basic functions. Proximity is important for reducing commute, and thus environmental and economic impacts of such activities. Moreno again highlights the promotion of social interactions as advocated by Urbanists Jane

Jacobs, Andres Duany, and Nikos Salingaros. (Moreno et al., 2021, p. 103)

Proximity shall allow transition from residential zones, commercial zones, education centers, health facilities in a reduced time, which in turn shall allow citizens to enjoy better service provision both in commercial and public establishments. The planning model thus enables multimodal uses of infrastructure.

An example of its manifestation is Paris where the municipality of Paris has started converted school playgrounds into open parks in off-school hours which has benefitted Parisians to maximise their public spaces, green spaces and public infrastructure.

It is further suggested that the concept of proximity here is advanced from the philosophy of chrono-urbanism, chronotropy and topophilia, which couples the spatial and temporal dimension. These philosophical tenets of chrono-urbanism, chronotropy and topophilia are described as follows, elaborated in the book entitled ‘A collection dedicated to the 15-Minute City’ published by ETI Chair, Paris (2020). The key features of these concepts are extracted, translated and interpretated below:

Chrono Urbanism: The term emerges from response to phenomenon of desynchronization of social practices, lifestyles and its implication on urban space. It proposes to integrate the rhythms of the citizens, its flows and schedules (workdays and weekends, seasonal vacations etc) into a temporal regulation at territorial scale. (CHAIRE ETI, 2021) The concept can be paralleled to the time geography studies. Its implication is related to creation of social policy frameworks, first originated in Italian policy planning as ‘times of the city’ approach(Charbgoo & Mareggi, 2018)

Chronotopia: It brings together the space and time, in which the space has a different meaning and function at different times. In spatial planning terms, it entails designing urban spaces and buildings not for a function but for plurality where each place can transform its identity, by multiple uses at the same time, at different times, seasonal uses, real time change use which shall promote bottom-up innovation due to interaction of these functions . Thus, it can be interpretated as Form based codes rather than zoning-based codes. Topophilia: A collective tool which can act as an instrument to channelise affection towards a place. When interpreted into planning jargon, it translates to creating sense of belonging within communities, forged by social links among people and place (CHAIRE ETI, 2021; Moreno, 2020) A component which formed the basis of neighbourhood concept. These three concepts converge around FMC and shall create basis for future socio-economic models (Moreno, 2020)

Moreno emphasises that the premise of proximity is critical as it allows to envision the city through a perspective of human scale and adaptable to use for the residents (Moreno, et al. pp. 103).

c. Diversity: The 15-minute city advances the principle into two categories,

1. Mixed use neighbourhoods to provide a mix of residential, commercial and entertainment services 2. Cultural diversity and different socio-economic groups Mixed use neighbourhoods shall ensure an optimal density and proximity of essential amenities and support walkable and bikeable streets, thus reducing the need to travel access the amenities.

According to Moreno, a diversity of people shall also benefit the local governments to maintain property values and concentrate on improving service delivery in the area, promoting social cohesion, and helping to create more social capital. It shall increase the offerings of diverse cultures and thus promote tourism and catering related businesses, thereby adding to economic vibrancy and local employment opportunities.

Moreno warns that the dimension of Diversity needs to be deployed at varying scales in the 15-minute radius, but at the hyper local building scale.

d. Digitalization: Inspired from Smart city concept and shall enable the actualization of the first three dimensions. it shall assist inclusivity, community participation, measure real time delivery of service. He proposes effective deployment of technology shall ensure better experience.

Following examples are narrated for a highlighted to suffice a better understanding. Enabling walkability in cities: promoting bike sharing services and mobility activity tracking sensors at nodes and junctions. Proximity to services: online shopping and delivery tracking, cashless transactions, promoting work from home. (Moreno, 2020)

In conclusion, the proposed FMC model shall unlock positive economic outcomes such as employment, innovation, and help cost cuts from fuel savings, road maintenance, pollution and other costs.