This paper, co-authored by Ulysse Lassaube, associate to Géographie-cités, a French  Research Unit, delves into the rapidly progressing 15-Minute City concept, an innovative urban planning model that envisions a city where residents can access essential services and amenities within a 15-min walk or bike ride from their homes.

Pedestrians in front of the Beauboug center (Paris) cco Pexels / matreding

Endorsed by UN-Habitat as a critical strategy for sustainable urban regeneration, this concept has gained considerable recognition worldwide since its introduction in 2016. The 15-Minute City framework aims to enhance accessibility, sustainability, and social cohesion by emphasizing mixed-use development, compact urban design, and efficient transportation systems. Nevertheless, the swift expansion of this concept has surpassed the production of academic literature, leading to a knowledge gap that calls for alternative research methodologies.

To address this gap, our study adopts a mixed-method approach, systematically analyzing scholarly literature, gray literature, media articles, and policy documents to offer a holistic understanding of the 15-Minute City concept, its real-world application, and the primary principles embraced by policymakers. By investigating the various manifestations of the 15-Minute City model and its potential advantages, challenges, and implications for urban planning and policy, this study contributes to ongoing conversation on sustainable urban development and planning. This study aims to inform policymakers, urban planners, and researchers about the current state of the 15-Minute City movement and its possible future trajectory.

« The origins of the 15-Minute City can be traced back to 2016, when Carlos Moreno first proposed the concept of reimagining urban living in the 21st century. Since then, this idea has gained significant traction in the urban planning community and has been embraced by cities worldwide. Paris, under the leadership of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, was the first to adopt this model in 2018, integrating the concept into its urban policy and development strategy [4]. Following Paris’ example, numerous cities, neighborhoods, and regions worldwide, from Melbourne to Montreal, have also implemented various forms of the 15-Minute City model. »
Introduction

Zaheer Allam, Reza Amir, Ulysse Lassaube, Didier Chabaud, Carlos Moreno. Mapping the Implementation Practices of the 15-Minute City. Smart Cities, 2024, 7 (4), ⟨10.3390/smartcities7040083⟩. ⟨hal-04666669⟩

Ulysse Lassaube is a project manager at the Paris Commerces Consulting and Territorial Development Department. Associate with Géographie-cités, he defended his doctoral thesis in Geography: “A city “à la carte” : commercial proximity in Paris, an approach to purchasing through mobility” in 2022, under the direction of Nadine CATTAN, Research Director at the CNRS.