The rise of ’15-minute cities’ and a greener way of life

Imagine everything you need within a short walk from your house: that is the concept behind the 15-minute city. In places like Cyprus, this may seem like no big deal, but in big countries with spread-out urban centres, it remains an aspiration.

The 15-minute city is a residential urban concept in which all city residents are able to meet most of their needs within a short walk or bicycle ride from their homes.

The concept was popularised by Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was in turn inspired by French-Colombian scientist Carlos Moreno. The 15-minute city has been described as a “return to a local way of life”.

Carlos Moreno’s 15-minute city framework highlights four key characteristics:

• Proximity: things must be close
• Diversity: land uses must be mixed to provide a wide variety of urban amenities nearby
• Density: there must be enough people to support a diversity of businesses in a compact land area
• Ubiquity: such neighbourhoods must be common enough that they are available and affordable to anyone who wants to live in one

Learn more about the worldwide 15-minute city initiative, here.

View the original video here.

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