The 15 minutes city: The future is now!

The concept was popularized by Franco-Colombian urbanist Carlos Moreno, who advocates for a city model where residents can access all essential services within 15 minutes on foot or by bike. This idea emerged as a response to decades of car-centered urban planning that created sprawling, congested, and emotionally draining cities.

8/30/20253 min read

What's 15 minutes city?

Zayda Dinoah Carvalho

Especialista Imobiliária

Publicado em 02/08/2025

The concept was popularized by Franco-Colombian urbanist Carlos Moreno, who advocates for a city model where residents can access all essential services within 15 minutes on foot or by bike. This idea emerged as a response to decades of car-centered urban planning that created sprawling, congested, and emotionally draining cities.

But the 15-Minute City is more than just physical proximity — it represents a new logic of urban time: fewer long commutes, more social interaction, and a healthier balance between work and personal life.

This model is built on four key pillars:

Proximity – bringing urban functions closer to people.
Diversity – mixing uses such as housing, commerce, services, and leisure.
Balanced Density – ensuring enough concentration to sustain local economies.
Active and Sustainable Mobility – encouraging walking, cycling, and efficient public transit.

Where the 15-Minute City Is Becoming a Reality

The 15-Minute City has moved beyond theory to become a reality in several places around the world — each adapting the concept to its own urban dynamics.

Paris, under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, is the most emblematic example. Billions of euros have been invested in expanding bike lanes, creating shared streets, and decentralizing services to reduce dependence on motorized transport. Schools, markets, and health clinics have been repositioned according to the concept.

Barcelona introduced the so-called “superblocks” — clusters of nine city blocks where car traffic is restricted, and space is returned to people with plazas, greenery, and leisure areas.

Melbourne adopted the term “20-minute city” and redesigned neighborhoods to provide local access to essential infrastructure, prioritizing community connections and urban health.

In Brazil, progress has been more gradual. Cities like Curitiba, Fortaleza, and São Paulo have implemented policies promoting active mobility and integrated urban development, but inequality remains a challenge: not all neighborhoods have equal access to services and infrastructure. In São Paulo, for instance, while central areas are closer to the model, peripheral regions still rely on long daily commutes.

foto: https://shre.ink/tPLK

The Obstacles to Creating a ‘Complete Neighborhood’ City”

Although it is a promising model, implementing the 15-Minute City requires overcoming both structural and cultural challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is the unequal distribution of services across cities. Peripheral neighborhoods — where most low-income populations live — still lack quality healthcare, schools, jobs, and leisure options. Without addressing these gaps, the model risks benefiting only wealthier areas and deepening social inequalities.

Another challenge lies in the urban mindset shaped around the car. Many residents resist the idea of relying less on automobiles, even if it could mean a slower-paced, more connected lifestyle. This resistance has surfaced even in developed countries such as the UK and the US, where 15-Minute City proposals have been targeted by conspiracy theories — claiming that governments sought to “control freedom of movement.”

Economic viability of small businesses and local services must also be taken into account. For the model to succeed, neighborhoods need sufficient population density to support pharmacies, bakeries, markets, and healthcare centers. This requires rethinking zoning laws and allowing mixed-use development — something that many municipalities still restrict.

Read the full article at: https://shre.ink/tPL5

Impact on Real State

The concept has also been transforming the way developers, builders, and investors design their projects. Developments that align with this logic of proximity and multifunctionality have gained increasing value and attention — especially among younger, urban audiences who prioritize time, well-being, and sustainability.

This opens the door for:

Mixed-use projects (residential + services + leisure within the same complex);
Club-style condominiums with their own centrality, capable of meeting most daily needs without leaving the neighborhood;
Investments in internal mobility (bike racks, electric vehicle sharing, wide and accessible sidewalks);
Stronger communication using terms like walkability, smart neighborhoods, quality time, and proximity-based infrastructure.

More than just a trend, the 15-Minute City can become a true competitive advantage. Developers who embrace this vision are better positioned to create vibrant, connected, and sustainable neighborhoods — and to engage with a new consumer profile that values well-being over square footage.

The 15 minutes city: The future is now!

What's 15 minutes city?

Where the 15-Minute City Is Becoming a Reality

The Obstacles to Creating a ‘Complete Neighborhood’ City”

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