Analyzing the 15-Minute City Concept and Its Applicability in India

Analyzing the 15-Minute City Concept and Its Applicability in India

Ar. Shruti Hastak1

Dept. of Architecture,

1School of Planning & Architecture, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: The 15-minute city concept is derived from historical concepts of proximity and walkability. The 15- minute city may be defined as an ideal geography where most human needs and many desires are located within a travel distance of 15 minutes. While automobiles may be accommodated in the 15-minute city, they cannot determine its scale or urban

form. The 15-minute city is defined by its ability to provide access to all human needs by walking or bicycling for a quarter hour or less. Transit should be provided within the 15-minute city, but cannot accurately define its scale.[1] The concept of a 15-minute city is being hailed as a spatial development model to help foster a more local, healthy, equitable and sustainable way of life. The spatial manifestation of this concept could override

the need to travel and convert long-distance trips through motorized modes with definite environmental impacts into shorter trips. The concept also humanizes the city scale and gives an opportunity to create public spaces in neighborhoods sidewalks, parks, squares, traditional markets, and small plazas, etc. It allows for application of other urban design concepts such as eyes-on-street, build-to-edge conditions, etc. to enhance their liveability and human happiness.

Further the applicability of the concept can be studied by taking up by various examples. Cities like Barcelona & Portland have already begun implementing the concept. In the near future to envisage living conditions for e.g. during the Covid-19 pandemic a need to implement this concept will increase; which brought in the need for personal travel space which became important, and walking and cycling have emerged as vital forms of mobility for safe and efficient travel.

Keywords: 15min city concept, Walkability, Proximity, Public Spaces, Social impact, Environmental impact, Feasibility.

1. BACKGROUND STUDY

   Fig. 1. The 15 min City Concept [2]

   After looking at the fig. 1 we need to understand the theories of the concept in detail.

   A. Understanding the various theories of 15 min City Concept

   Moreno and the 15-minute city

   Moreno's 2021 article introduced the 15-minute city concept as a way to ensure that urban residents can fulfil six essential functions within a 15-minute walk or bike from their dwellings. These functions include: living, working, commerce, healthcare, education and entertainment. The 15- minute city framework of this model has four components; density, proximity, diversity and digitalization.

   Moreno cites the work of Nikos Salingaros, who posits that there exists an optimal density for urban development which would encourage local solutions to local problems. The authors discuss proximity in terms of both space and time and argue that a 15-minute city would decrease both space and time necessary for activity. Diversity in this 15-minute city model refers to mixed-use development and multicultural neighborhoods, both of which Moreno et al. argue would improve the urban experience and increase community participation in the planning process. Digitalization is a key aspect of the 15-minute city derived from smart cities. Moreno

   et al. argue that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has reduced the need for commuting because of access to technology like virtual communication and online shopping. Moreno et al. conclude by stating that these four components, when implemented at scale, would form an accessible city with a high quality of life. [3]

   Weng and the 15-minute walkable neighborhood

   Weng et al., in their 2019 article using Shanghai as a case study, proposed the 15-minute walkable neighborhood with a focus on health, and specifically non-communicable diseases. The authors posit the 15-minute walkable neighborhood as a way to improve the health of residents and documented existing disparities in walkability within Shanghai. The authors found that rural areas on average are significantly less walkable and areas with low walkability tend to have a higher proportion of children. Compared to Moreno et al., the authors focused more on the health benefits of walking and differences in walkability and usage across age groups. [3]

   The above stated theories about the 15 min City Concept give us the insight that it is feasible. Along with this the theories also focus on the framework of the concept and its impact to an extent. Further we can understand their applicability in the literature case studies done.

2. LITERATURE STUDY: CASE STUDIES

   1. Paris, France

      The Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo aimed to decarbonize the city. This inspired the launch of Flexible City Programme in which the ultimate aim was to build communities where all the essential needs of Parisians were met within 15 minutes of their homes on foot, or by bicycle or public transport. The priority areas included easy access to workplaces, stores, schools, clinics and cultural activities. This ecological transformation was based on four pillars: proximity, diversity, density, and ubiquity aiming to fulfil the basic social functions of living, working, supplying, caring, learning and enjoying [4].

      The City adopted an approach of hyper-proximity and multipurpose localities: which can be identified from the Fig. 2 & Fig. 3 that sought to reduce the number of car lanes drastically to free up road space for pedestrians and bikes, and to utilize public spaces for purposes such as daytime schools serving as sports facilities and places for night-time leisure activities. Plans also include the creation of children streets near schools. As a part of transportation planning, the mayor had announced EUR 350 million of funding for pedestrianisation that would focus on creating a cycle lane in every street in the region by 2024 and removing 60,000 parking spaces for private cars. Successful execution of this transformational work was evident in a new public garden replacing a parking lot in the Minimes barracks. As a part of the same initiative, the surrounding buildings were renovated into 70 public housing apartments at a cost of EUR 12.3 million [4]. During the entire process Mayor Anne Hidalgo was assisted by professor & academician Carlos Moreno the one who laid out the major framework of 15 minute City Concept.

      Fig. 2. The 15 min City Concept, Paris [5]

      Fig. 3. The 15 min City, Paris [5]

   2. Portland, USA

      In Portland the focus was on developing long term strategies related to land use in an urban environment, targeting affordable housing, public transport, income inequality, city walkability, social/community-based engagement, and inclusion. Hence in 2015, Portland Climate Action Plan set a 2030 Complete Neighborhoods goal for 80% of residents to be easily able to access all their basic daily non-work needs by foot or bike, and to have safe pedestrian or bicycle access to transit [6] with this they prioritized the undeserved low income neighborhoods for a complete improvements. The Fig. 4 & Fig. 5 explain the concept planning & analysis.

      Fig. 4. 20 min Neighborhood Analysis, Portland [7]

      Fig. 5. Portlands Complete Neighborhood Concept [7]

   3. Melbourne, Australia

      Plan Melbourne 20172050 is a long-term strategy that seeks to accommodate the challenges posed by an ever- growing population and employment. These include providing affordable and accessible housing, esuring adequate number and diversity of jobs, containment of urban sprawl, accessibility and adequacy of transport, mitigation of green- house emissions, and adaptation to climate change [7].

      The plan is guided by the principle of 20-minute neighborhoods, which are all about living locally and creating inclusive, vibrant and healthy communities. In Melbourne, this is defined as giving people the ability to meet most of their daily needs as show in Fig. 6 within a 20- minute return walk from home (an 800m walkable catchment) as depicted in the Fig.7, with safe cycling and transport options. In 2018, Melbourne successfully piloted a program to test 20-minute neighborhoods in different local contexts and identify best-practice approaches to building community partnerships and strategies for delivery.

      Fig. 6. Features of 20 min Neighborhood, Melbourne [8]

      Fig. 7. 800m Walkable Catchment [8]

      Fig. 8. 20 min Wlakable Neighborhood, Melbourne [9]

   4. Barcelona, Spain

   The city has a superblocks system example shown in Fig. 9 that modifies road networks within 400×400 meter blocks to improve the availability and quality of public space for leisure and community activities and for pedestrians and cyclists. Learning from the successes of Barcelona and Vitoria-Gasteiz, which has also implemented superblocks, in June 2020 Madrid announced plans to pilot the superblock approach as part of its transition to a city of 15-minutes to support the citys revival following the pandemic. The superblock measures are cheap and reversible and will be designed and implemented in collaboration with residents [10].

   Fig. 9. Superblocks Model, Barcelona, Spain [10]

3. UNDERSTANDING THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 15 MIN CITY CONCEPT

   Summing up all the case studies the following pillars formed the major framework:

   Proximity/Walkability, Density, Diversity, Safety, Digitalization, Social & Environmental Impact.

   1. Proximity/Walkability

      In each case study this was the prime factor and the major aim of implementing the 15min city concept. As the concept says that bringing all the necessities from work to daily needs were brought within the limit of 15min or 20min walk. This helps reduce the travel stress & time to work and also for other allied needs. This in turn affects the health of the people/the density that is looked at. Therefore people are now forces to walk or cycle or use public transport if required to reach any place in the neighborhood.

   2. Density

      In the 15min City concept, Density is seen as far as individuals per kilometer square. At neighborhood level and then at city level this factor plays an important role in terms of managing the resources and support systems. Also optimum utilization of these resources has to be considered. There has to be a balance in consumption & demand. For this certain centralized policies need to be implemented by maintaining the density in the particular area.

   3. Diversity

      Diversity with regards to the above outline and in the progression of the 15-Minute City idea is twofold: (i) the requirement for blended use of neighborhoods which is essential for effective functioning of residential, commercial and recreational zones (ii) variety in culture and individuals. Chasing after a 15-Minute City model, the reception of blended use areas is fundamental in guaranteeing that an ideal thickness and nearness of fundamental conveniences are accomplished, while additionally accommodating improvement of walkable roads and bike paths. This methodology guarantees that occupants can profit from fundamentals inside their neighborhoods, accordingly diminishing the requirement for them to venture out to get to them.

      This aspect would likewise help with guaranteeing that the sacredness of accessible public spaces is saved and maintained and, where conceivable, that chances for making more open regions are relished.

   4. Safety

      Today safety is not only related to protection from crime or violence it is also about mobility & socialization due to Covid-19 pandemic. Proximity/walkability being the major & important pillar of the framework it has to be done keeping in mind the safety of pedestrians, safety of cyclists, safety of drivers of public/private transport and lastly social distancing again due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Therefore health has become a mandatory part of safety today. With this a mix of land uses that favors the continuous use of space at different times of the day, the increase of visibility during the night with the use of good lighting etc. will contribute towards achieving the sense of a safe urban environment. This is aligned with Jane Jacobs idea that there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street [7].

   5. Digitalization

      This factor also perfectly fits with the Smart City idea from which the 15-Minute City idea can be contended to have, to some degree, drawn its motivation. For example, inside the Smart City idea, factors like inclusivity, inhabitant cooperation and constant conveyance of administrations are supported through differing stages incorporating computerization similarly as for the situation in Moreno Theory.

   6. Social & Enivronmental Impact

   All these factors together have a greater impact on the Society & Environment. According to the 15 min city concept proximity of everything will come closer which will reduce the use of vehicles which in turn helps reduce carbon emissions and pollution. Secondly, increase in number of open spaces, reduction in travel time gives people more time to socialize, which helps in bringing the community closer. Overall the entire concept of 15 min City improves encourages community living and healthy lifestyle.

4. APPLICABILITY OF THE FRAMEWORK ON AN INDIAN CITY

   To check the applicability lets take an example of Chandigarh city. This is city being a Union Territory also has the legacy of being planned by a famous Architect Le Corbusier in Grid Iron pattern. The city has 56 sectors, each 800 by 1200 meters.

   It has intensive Grid Plan divided in sectors therefore picking up one sector and applying the concept to check its applicability. Also, the city being divided in sectors each sector looks the same therefore the 15 min concept will bring in the diversity in planning.

   Fig. 10. Chandigarh Master Plan

   Fig. 11. Chandigarh Sector Plan

   Further the study area will be sectors 17, 18, 21 & 22. In these sectors we can overlay the 15min city concept and check its feasibility using the Six Pillars of Framework discussed earlier in the paper.

   Fig. 12. Land Use Plan of Sector 17

   Fig. 13. Zoning & Proposal Plan for Sector 17

   Fig. 14. Land Use Plan of Sector 18

   Fig. 15. Zoning & Proposal Plan for Sector 18

   Fig. 16. Land Use of Sector 21

   Fig. 17. Zoning & Proposal Plan for Sector 21

   Fig. 18. Land Use Plan of Sector 22

   Fig. 19. Zoning & Proposal Plan for Sector 22

   In the above proposal plans figures Fig. 13, Fig. 15, Fig. 17& Fig. 19, new community spaces by reorganizing the existing is suggested keeping the residential areas the same. The proposals have been suggested taking into account the current Land Use pattern of these adjoining sectors. For every sector these considerations will have to be made to implement the 15 minute City Concept.

   Considering the overall environmental and social impact for the sectors above the proposals made will definitely change the current situations. It will improve the community interaction and at same time help reduce stress levels. For the environmental impact, it will reduce the traffic and use of private vehicles that in turn reduces pollution and carbon emissions. The architectural and social fabric of the sectors will start changing giving it a new character. Although, there would be certain limitation in implementing these proposals.

5. INFERENCES

   Therefore here are some observations & findings from the above figures (Fig. 12 to Fig. 19) which can be tabularized as below in the form of Issues and Proposals.

   	Summarizing the Proposal for Sectors 17, 18, 21, 22
   	Issues & Proposals
   Sr. No.	Issues	Proposals
   1	Inappropriate utilization of public structures and regions that show up as areas regarding their area in the metropolitan texture.	Openings for the reuse of unused public spaces by imparting socio-sporting and sports offices to the nearby local area.
   2	Little knowledge of unused public and private heritage	Presence of a significant naturalistic region in the city of Chandigarh as a chance to ponder the production of a biological organization
   3	City/suburb awkwardness in the city region and metropolitan fracture.	The presence of a huge, neglected legacy addresses a significant asset for reacting to social, financial, and ecological requirements (first to battle land use).
   4	Absence of incorporated	By working on the

   	Summarizing the Proposal for Sectors 17, 18, 21, 22
   	Issues & Proposals
   Sr. No.	Issues	Proposals
   1	Inappropriate utilization of public structures and regions that show up as areas regarding their area in the metropolitan texture.	Openings for the reuse of unused public spaces by imparting socio-sporting and sports offices to the nearby local area.
   2	Little knowledge of unused public and private heritage	Presence of a significant naturalistic region in the city of Chandigarh as a chance to ponder the production of a biological organization
   3	City/suburb awkwardness in the city region and metropolitan fracture.	The presence of a huge, neglected legacy addresses a significant asset for reacting to social, financial, and ecological requirements (first to battle land use).
   4	Absence of incorporated	By working on the

   TABLE I. ISSUES & PROPOSAL FOR THE SECTORS 17,18, 21 & 22 IN CHANDIGARH

   	Summarizing the Proposal for Sectors 17, 18, 21, 22
   	Issues & Proposals
   	administration important to manage issues identifying with deserted and unused resources.	presentation of districts and the city as far as inward and outer regulatory straightforwardness
   5	Absence of neighborhood scenic routes and city passageways.	Sufficient admittance to key metropolitan capacities and vicinity to significant vehicle centers is guaranteed through an organization of "neighborhood scenic routes" that incorporates walkways, bikeways, scenic route trails and bicycle well-disposed green roads.
   6	No particular tourist spots because of turf arranging of the city.	Arrangements for elective vehicle choices that debilitate vehicle utilization adds to the decrease of carbon dioxide outflows and in this manner respiratory infections.
   7	Every one of the streets seem to be comparable which makes it disarray.	Joining miniature versatility decisions with public vehicle plans to give admittance to other action and business focuses citywide.

   	Summarizing the Proposal for Sectors 17, 18, 21, 22
   	Issues & Proposals
   	administration important to manage issues identifying with deserted and unused resources.	presentation of districts and the city as far as inward and outer regulatory straightforwardness
   5	Absence of neighborhood scenic routes and city passageways.	Sufficient admittance to key metropolitan capacities and vicinity to significant vehicle centers is guaranteed through an organization of "neighborhood scenic routes" that incorporates walkways, bikeways, scenic route trails and bicycle well-disposed green roads.
   6	No particular tourist spots because of turf arranging of the city.	Arrangements for elective vehicle choices that debilitate vehicle utilization adds to the decrease of carbon dioxide outflows and in this manner respiratory infections.
   7	Every one of the streets seem to be comparable which makes it disarray.	Joining miniature versatility decisions with public vehicle plans to give admittance to other action and business focuses citywide.

   predominance, recovering space from vehicles, expanding tree covering, and improving passerby versatility. The vision of the creator of this paper is to make progress toward a carbon economy and a sound life for the residents.

   ACKNOWLEDGMENT

   The author would like to thank various people associated with the documentation. Firstly, would like to thank my student Ar. Rumana for the inspiration behind this paper and instigating the idea. Secondly, Sinhgad College for accepting the abstract and giving me the opportunity to submit, write on this topic and bring it up in front of the fraternity. Thirdly, would like to thank my Institute SPA, Bhopal for allowing me to write on this topic. Lastly, my friends & family for all the support given during the research.

6. CONCLUSION

The investigation of the review setting, from the assessments of the issues which are there in the drafting plans of areas, Chandigarh permitted us to extend the job of the neglected public properties toward the ideal "15-minute city". The arrangement of the neglected structures considered as likely possibilities for reuse will be likewise expanded to cover a more extensive augmentation of the metropolitan texture for a more extensive social incorporation. One more bearing of examination will manage the utilization of such techniques to other previously existing and working public structures and regions in a similar city, to think about the capability of the reusable structures and regions to play another focal, metropolitan job. From the above contextual investigations and the examination of the review it's about time to put an accentuation on decreasing vehicle

REFERENCES

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4. Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/public- sector/articles/urban-future-with-a-purpose/15-minute-city.html.

5. C. Andreea, "The Concept of 15-Minute City Wins 2021 Obel Award", ArchDaily, 2021.

6. O. R, Portland Plan & Climate Action Plan:Local Strategies to adress Climate Change, Portland, 2012 & 2015

7. Po. Georg & Ch. Zoi, 15-Minute City: Decomposin the New Urban Planning Eutopia,Sustainable Urban and Rural Development, Conference Sustainibility 2021, 2021.

8. C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, C40 Knowledge Hub, How to build back better with a 15-minute City, 2020.

9. Retreived from https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and- strategy/planning-for-melbourne/plan-melbourne/20-minute- neighbourhoods.

10. City of Barcelona, Hacemos juntos una ciudad mejor & Dia. El Madrid plantea crear una supermanzana para limitar el tráfico con una prueba piloto, n.p., 2020.