What is the 15-minute city? Keys to an enriching urban experience

You've probably heard of "the 15-minute city," but what exactly is it? We tell you about it.

It is a trend that tries to “humanize” big cities, making all services, stores, schools, parks and places of interest within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your home. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Beyond clichés, who has never said that big cities are “cold and impersonal”, that “nobody knows anybody”? The idea of the “15-minute city” is to overcome the hustle and bustle and loneliness of modern life, to break the anonymity between neighbors, recovering the idea of “neighborhood”, and to create more accessible and sustainable cities, with nearby services. It is also an answer to the problems of traffic, stress and lack of connectivity faced by many people living in large, congested cities. It is also intended to be a solution to reduce the time and distance between the places where we live, work and carry out our daily activities. This would not only save us time and money, but also allow us to have access to a greater number of services and opportunities in our own neighborhood or city.

The theory originated in Paris, where its mayor, Anne Hidalgo, proposed the idea as part of her election platform in 2014. Since then, it has gained popularity around the world, and many cities are adopting the idea and working to implement it through urban policies and planning programs. Implementing the “15-minute city” can have numerous benefits, such as reducing the time and cost of transportation, improving the health and well-being of city dwellers, and reducing pollution and carbon footprint. In addition, the initiative fosters the creation of closer-knit communities, where neighbors can interact and collaborate more easily. As a result of this collaboration, projects such as community urban gardens are born and even apps related to this idea are developed, such as peerby, which facilitate the loan of objects between neighbors.

Photo by Jonny James on Unsplash

In conclusion, the “15-minute city” is an exciting idea that has the potential to transform our cities into more accessible, sustainable and united places. Only time will tell whether this beautiful idea comes to fruition or remains a mere declaration of intent. What do you think? Would you like to live in a more united, interconnected neighborhood? Or do you prefer the “anonymity of the big city”?

At HogarAbitatWe are committed to helping our clients find homes that suit their needs and preferences, we are aware of the importance of finding a home in an ideal location that allows you to access everything you need in just a few minutes, because your home is much more than just a roof over your head, we know that your house is your home Always welcome to HogarAbitat!