15-minute city
An Urban Model That No Longer Works
In many cities, daily life is shaped by distance. Housing is located on the outskirts, services are concentrated in just a few areas, and commuting takes up a significant part of the day. The current organization of urban space imposes a fragmented—and often inefficient—routine.
This model, which prioritizes motorized mobility and a strict separation of functions—residential, work, commercial—is showing signs of wear. Its consequences are visible: congestion, time loss, unequal access to services, and the deterioration of public space.
The question is no longer whether change is necessary, but how to make it happen.
The Principle of Proximity
Carlos Moreno, a Franco-Colombian urbanist, proposed a different approach: the 15-minute city. A city where all basic needs—work, health, education, food, recreation—are no more than 15 minutes away by foot or by bike from one’s home.
This concept doesn’t require building new cities, but rather reorganizing existing ones to reduce car dependency and improve quality of life. Instead of massive infrastructure, it proposes neighborhood-scale interventions: more local services, better pedestrian connectivity, and accessible public spaces.
The 15-minute city is about revaluing the immediate surroundings as a functional, active, and sufficient space.
Mixed-Use: A Concrete Urban Tool
One of the most effective ways to move toward this model is through mixed-use buildings: developments that combine housing, commerce, offices, and in some cases, cultural or social amenities in one place.
Unlike monofunctional developments, mixed-use projects encourage activity throughout the day, reduce unnecessary travel, and activate public space. They also help diversify the local economy and strengthen social fabric.
Projects like Distrito Teatro in Xalapa and Chankanaab in Tulum exemplify this logic. The former is organized around a cultural center that gives identity to the complex and connects it with the neighborhood’s life. The latter embraces a permeable architecture, adapted to the climate and natural context, that allows flexible use. Both show that mixed-use developments can respond to local dynamics without enforcing a one-size-fits-all format.
Both projects demonstrate how it’s possible to design with complexity without losing clarity—and how mixed-use strategies can adapt to local needs without imposing a single model.
Conclusion: A More Efficient City, Not Necessarily a Bigger One
Today’s urban debate is no longer just about growth, but about the efficiency and quality of the built environment. The 15-minute city isn’t a universal solution, but it is a useful framework for rethinking proximity as an urban value.
Its implementation requires coherent public policies, responsible territorial planning, and—above all—the will to break away from inherited patterns.
The challenge is significant: to design cities that work better for more people, without relying solely on movement. Cities that—while remaining dense or complex—are also accessible, complete, and livable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What sets the 15-minute city apart from other urban models?
Its focus is on time, not distance. It seeks to reorganize services and activities to reduce the need to travel. -
How is mixed-use applied in practice?
Through projects that integrate complementary functions in a single place: housing, commerce, offices, education, or recreation—planned as a whole. -
What benefits does this model bring?
It reduces traffic, improves access to services, strengthens the local economy, and promotes a more balanced urban life. -
Can it work in very large cities?
Yes. The key is to apply this approach in a decentralized way, at the neighborhood level, without depending on a single central area. -
What role does public space play?
A crucial one. A 15-minute city needs safe streets, nearby parks, and shared spaces that support both non-motorized mobility and community life.