La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
Global Spotlight: The Resurgence of the 15-Minute City By Chris Dietz
T
he 15-minute city concept has made a remarkable resurgence over the last year or so. Restrictions to our usual way of life have put into sharp focus the requirement for a more balanced approach to proximity, in which access to daily necessities are within convenient reach for city residents. We have been forced to rethink our perception of density and its role in shaping cities of the future. Community Building Reimagined Stripped back to its core, the 15-minute city concept is centered around the idea that a place of work—as well as commerce, healthcare, entertainment and education facilities—should all be within a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride of one’s home. It encourages the creation of multiple neighborhoods and districts scattered throughout a city, marking a departure from planning policies of the last century that have emphasized the desirability of 74 December 2021 RISMedia’s REAL ESTATE
creating separate and isolated residential areas. Reducing our carbon dependency—in which cars and other highcarbon transport are rendered all but redundant and swapped for walks and bike rides—is a key theme. The creation of multifunctional public spaces, additional green spaces and community gardens while re-purposing our real estate are a few other key objectives from an environmental standpoint. It is a concept that is simultaneously
historic and revolutionary—marking a return to civilization’s earliest days of community building, yet entirely reimagining the way we design our future cities. First theorized by French scientist Carlos Moreno in 2014, the 15-minute city, despite a relatively muted pick-up in its early years, has been propelled into the spotlight in response to pandemic conditions and the growing environmental agenda. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made it a centerpiece of her 2020 re-election campaign. Local authorities, urban planners and real estate professionals across the globe have taken kindly to the idea: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon, Milan, New York, Singapore and Stockholm are just a few of the major forces incorporating 15-minute features into their city masterplans. Many of our 550 member firms across the globe continue to express enthusiasm for the idea as we continue research for our Sustainability Series. Global Powerhouses Lead the Charge The social and economic benefits are of noteworthy significance, namely in respect to creating mixed-use neigh-
