The 15-Minute City: 25 Ways Architects Can Design Better Cities
The idea of the 15-minute city sounds new, but itβs based on a very old way of living. People used to live in places where everything they needed β food, school, parks, work β was nearby. They didnβt need a car to buy bread, take a child to school, or meet a friend in the park.
1. Who Came Up with the 15-Minute City?
The term "15-minute city" was created by Carlos Moreno, a professor in Paris, in 2016. He wanted to help cities reduce car use, fight climate change, and improve daily life. His big idea: redesign cities so everything you need is within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from home.
He focused on four big principles:
- Proximity: keep daily needs close
- Diversity: mix different uses in one area
- Density: make sure there are enough people to support local services
- Equity: give everyone access, not just high-income areas
Paris used his idea in its 2020 city plan β and suddenly the world started paying attention.
2. A Familiar Idea with a New Name
The 15-minute city isnβt really a new concept. Many old cities were built this way. Think of small towns, old European centers, or traditional neighborhoods with narrow streets and mixed uses.
In the 1920s, planner Clarence Perry suggested designing neighborhoods where everything β school, shops, parks β could be reached on foot. He called it the "Neighborhood Unit."
In the UK, Ebenezer Howard proposed the Garden City: a mix of homes, jobs, and nature, all walkable. Jane Jacobs famously argued for walkable blocks, street life, and mixing uses. Kevin Lynch focused on how people understand and move through cities. All these thinkers helped shape what we now call the 15-minute city.
3. What Paris Did β and Why It Mattered
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, cities shut down. People stayed local. Thatβs when Paris went big on the 15-minute idea.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo turned streets into bike lanes. Schoolyards opened on weekends. Libraries added new services. Small shops were supported. The city helped every neighborhood become more self-sufficient β less commuting, more living.
Other cities followed:
- Melbourne created a 20-minute neighborhood plan
- Portland used the idea in its "Complete Neighborhoods" strategy
- BogotΓ‘ added local health and education services to underserved areas
- Copenhagen quietly built 15-minute cities before anyone gave it a name
4. What the 15-Minute City Is Really About
Itβs not about stopping people from moving around. Itβs about making it possible not to.
The core idea is simple:
- Keep daily needs close
- Mix housing, shops, schools, and parks
- Design streets for walking and biking
- Offer good public space
- Provide different types of housing so different people can live nearby
Itβs not one big project. Itβs thousands of small, smart choices.
5. What Architects and Designers Can Do Right Now
You donβt need to redesign a whole city. You just need to start with whatβs in front of you β one block, one building, one project.
Hereβs a guide you can follow.
25 Simple Actions to Build 15-Minute Cities
1. Walk the Site Like a Local
Spend time walking around your site. Look at where people walk, shop, wait for buses, or sit. Map whatβs reachable in 15 minutes.
2. Look for Whatβs Missing
Is there a grocery store nearby? A park? A school? If something basic is missing, design your project to help fill the gap.
3. Plan Ground Floors for Life
Donβt design blank walls. Make space for shops, cafes, studios, or community uses on the ground floor. Thatβs where city life happens.
4. Include Bike Parking in Every Project
No bike parking = fewer bikes. Add it for residents, workers, and visitors. Make it visible and easy to use.
5. Add Pocket Parks or Plazas Every Few Blocks
Even a small patch of green makes a big difference. Use leftover space, corners, or rooftops.
6. Mix Uses, Even in Small Projects
A single building can include housing and a corner shop. A school can host events. Avoid single-use zones.
7. Make Streets Safer and Slower
Narrow lanes, raised crossings, and trees help slow traffic. People walk more where it feels safe.
8. Add Shade and Seating
If you want people to walk or sit outside, give them comfort. Shade, benches, and lighting turn space into place.
9. Design for Health Nearby
Include small clinics, therapy rooms, or space for mobile health services. Bring basic care closer.
10. Reuse What You Can
Old buildings are often well-placed. Renovating is more sustainable β and keeps the cityβs memory alive.
11. Include Affordable Units
Make sure new housing doesnβt push people out. Use mixed-price models, co-ops, or public-private tools.
12. Support Local Retail
Design small, flexible commercial spaces β not just big-box anchors. Think barbershops, groceries, or repair shops.
13. Put Schools in the Middle
Donβt tuck schools into distant corners. Make them easy to walk to. Give them good public space around.
14. Include Transit in Your Thinking
Even if youβre not building it, design with bus stops, tram lines, and transit plazas in mind. Help people access them.
15. Use Simple Diagrams to Show Proximity
Help your clients and the public visualize whatβs near. Draw 5-minute and 15-minute circles. Add landmarks.
16. Include Spaces for All Ages
Design playgrounds and benches close together. Add outdoor exercise spaces. Donβt forget teenagers.
17. Add Shared Rooms to Housing Projects
Community kitchens, coworking spaces, laundry rooms β these create social life without needing to leave the block.
18. Mix Unit Types
Include studios, family units, and accessible units in every project. This keeps the neighborhood mixed and stable.
19. Use Forgotten Spaces
Turn alleys into gardens. Use roofs for play. Donβt waste the in-between places.
20. Donβt Let Parking Dominate
Put it underground, share it, or use flexible layouts. Parking should not be the first thing people see.
21. Plant Trees Everywhere
Street trees cool the air, calm traffic, and improve mood. Theyβre essential infrastructure.
22. Think About Daily Movement
How do people move through your building? Can it connect them better to what they need nearby?
23. Connect Civic Buildings Visually
Libraries, clinics, schools β make them easy to spot and reach. These are the backbone of the neighborhood.
24. Talk to the Community Early
Run design workshops or interviews. Residents know what they need. Listen well.
25. Measure by Minutes, Not Just Meters
Itβs not just about distance β itβs about how fast and how pleasant it is to walk. Use real-time and real-life tools.
A Final Thought
The 15-minute city is not a perfect formula. Itβs a way to make neighborhoods more complete, more connected, and more enjoyable.
Start small. Think like a neighbor, not just a designer. Measure by footsteps, not floor area. And design places where people actually want to live β not just drive through.
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