Rapidly Constructed Metropolises: Engineering Urban Landscapes for Ecological Balance and Personal Contentment
In the pursuit of creating more sustainable and people-friendly urban environments, the concept of 15-minute cities is gaining traction. This innovative approach aims to improve the well-being of city dwellers while addressing modern city issues, such as air pollution and social disparities.
One of the first major landmarks to embrace this concept is the Riviera Tower in the Ellinikon project in Athens, which boasts a climate-conscious, future-proof design. The Ellinikon project, which will eventually become Europe's largest coastal park, is transforming the former site of Athens International Airport into a model 15-minute city.
However, some urban planners question whether building 15-minute cities from scratch is always a viable option. In some cases, existing cities can be redeveloped to incorporate the principles of the 15-minute city concept. Columbus, for example, is planning to update its zoning laws to permit mixed-use spaces, as part of its vision to become the world's largest 15-minute city, led by David Staley, a professor at the Ohio State University.
To maximise sustainability and practicality, authorities must focus on a set of key design considerations. These guidelines ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and maintain affordability for low-income groups.
### Key Design Considerations
1. **Ubiquity and Inclusiveness** Ensuring access to essential services, such as health, education, shops, and recreation, is widespread and equitable. This means designing neighbourhoods where all residents, including people with disabilities, can easily reach services without barriers.
2. **Proximity and Mixed-Use Development** Placing diverse amenities near residential areas to reduce travel distances to 15 minutes or less by walking, cycling, or public transport. Mixed-use zoning encourages compactness and vibrant neighbourhoods that integrate living, working, shopping, and social activities.
3. **Sustainable Mobility and Active Transport** Transitioning away from car dependency by prioritising walking, cycling, and efficient public transit. Safe, accessible, and affordable transportation options are critical, with special attention to affordability and convenience for people with disabilities and those on low incomes.
4. **Affordability Focus** - Increasing affordable housing within multimodal neighbourhoods to reduce combined housing-and-transport costs. - Supporting policies that lower transportation costs, like carsharing, redesigned parking policies (e.g., unbundled parking fees), and transit subsidies aimed at low-income groups. - In economic assessments, weighing benefits for less-advantaged groups more heavily to guide equitable investment. - Implementing Smart Growth principles that foster compact communities with resource-efficient travel modes, reducing overall living costs by 10-60%.
5. **Accessibility for People with Disabilities** - Designing public transport, sidewalks, crossings, and public facilities with universal design standards to remove physical barriers. - Considering specific needs in transport affordability evaluations and service planning to address latent demand from disabled residents.
6. **Density and Urban Form** Creating compact, walkable neighbourhoods that optimise land use and reduce the need for long-distance travel. This density supports efficient public transport and strengthens local economies, enhancing community cohesion and integration.
7. **Community Cohesion and Social Integration** The 15-minute city concept boosts social ties by facilitating neighbourly interactions and shared spaces, which also contributes to better mental health and reduced social disparities.
By integrating these considerations, authorities can create a 15-minute city that is sustainable, practical, accessible, and affordable, ensuring no resident is excluded due to physical ability or economic status.
In cities like Paris, Barcelona, and others, efforts are underway to redevelop offices into multi-use spaces and create more parks to improve access to amenities. It is essential for designers to examine examples of 15-minute cities to see how well they work for people with disabilities.
Residents are encouraged to attend meetings or public events about 15-minute cities and provide feedback to make projects more accessible and equitable. Through careful planning, ongoing collaboration, and a focus on key design considerations, authorities can bring residents closer to more convenient, sustainable, and equitable urban living.
- The process of transitioning existing cities, such as Columbus, into 15-minute cities requires updating zoning laws to permit mixed-use spaces, fostering a lifestyle that combined home, work, shopping, and leisure activities within 15 minutes of travel.
- Athens' Riviera Tower, part of the Ellinikon project, embodies the 15-minute city concept by focusing on sustainability, thus lowering air pollution and promoting a greener environment.
- Sustainable lifestyle choices, within the context of 15-minute cities, are supported by prioritising active transport like walking and cycling, which not only benefits the environment but also addresses accessibility concerns for people with disabilities and those on low incomes.
