Interview with Carlos Moreno

neext European Talk (ET): In the world, we experience a lack of space. Is it possible to convert existing cities into
a 15-minute city or do you encounter problems and if so, which ones?

Carlos Moreno (CM): In a context where zero land artificialisation is essential, building new towns is out of the question. To transform lifestyles and develop virtuous urban organizations, it is essential to transform the existing. The 15-minute city follows this rule. It's a simple matter of seizing the opportunity provided by the existing urban fabric, understanding its dysfunctions, to transform it and make it viable. The main difficulty in converting existing cities into more sustainable ones is getting residents to support the change. For instance, closing roads to cars can be very difficult to accept at first. It takes real political conviction and environmental commitment to make it happen. There are no real technical obstacles to transformation. Even if it takes time, soils can be de-waterproofed, roads can be transformed, green surfaces planted, commercial premises purchased...

Moreover, the 15-minute city plays on this "lack of space". It's about taking advantage of spatial interstices, but also of temporal ones. By observing the city through time – via chronourbanism and chronotopia - the 15-minute city proposes to invest places in their hollow times, for other uses. Is there a lack of space for children to play? What if the school playground were open on weekends? Not enough space for a dance class? What if the refectory was open on Saturday evenings?

ET: Can any city become a 15-minute city, or do certain requirements have to be met? Do you have best practice cities or countries that are further ahead than others?

CM: Changes in lifestyles and urban organization are essential if we are to respond to the climate crisis. For this reason, I believe that all cities must evolve to limit their environmental impact and offer happier lifestyles to their inhabitants. They can all evolve in line with the principles of the 15-minute city: strengthening public transport and soft mobility, slowing down the pace of the city, developing local services and shops, enhancing the quality of public spaces, greening streets and public spaces...

Some towns are predisposed to implement the 15-minute city: those that already have a finely structured public transport network, one or more city-centers, active mobility policies...

But I'm convinced that all cities should take actions, whatever their initial state, to improve quality of life and thus, step by step, move towards the implementation of a happy proximity.

ET: How long does the process of transforming a city take in your experience?

CM: There's no magic formula or predefined timetable. As I said earlier, it all depends on the initial state and the objective set. Cities are constantly evolving, and urban transformation is a long-term process. It is achieved by combining short, immediate actions with long-term ones. The stronger the will, the faster the transformation. This requires political will and effective organization, a precise development plan and the associated funding.

ET: Social cohesion has become more and more relevant in recent times. Turbulent times can separate societies and we experience extreme scales. How can the 15-minute concept support social aspects and bring habitants from all backgrounds together?

CM: Sustainable, the 15-minute city is also social. It aims to promote a mixed population, both in terms of housing and uses. Transports, cultural venues, sports areas, tend to be free or at low prices so that everyone can experience the 15-minute city with no price restriction. With the multiplication of uses for the same place, and the opening up of school playgrounds at weekends, for example, the 15 minute city also enables the extension of living spaces, for all. Furthermore, the solidarity of the 15 minute city can take various forms, as it does in Paris: neighborhood kiosks, support for civic service volunteers, a self-help network for the elderly, a neighborhood network, support for digital public writers...

ET: Our theme this year is Urban Density and the Vertical City what does this mean in the 15-minute city or a city of the future?

CM: With demographic growth, density is essential if we are to avoid nibbling away at agricultural and natural land. Verticality is also essential, if we want to preserve open spaces and quality public spaces in urban areas. These two components - density and verticality - are feared and decried by local residents. Nevertheless, the challenge of the 15-minute city is to prove that a city can be dense and at the same time pleasant. In my opinion, we hold all the cards for developing cities that are dense but also liveable, where residents feel good because they are not anonymous and can live at their own pace.

ET: COVID-19 has contributed to changes in many areas. Has this also influenced the 15-minute city concept. What changed?

CM: The Covid-19 has accelerated the adoption of the 15-Minute City concept. Indeed, the pandemic was a radical turning point, with the rediscovery of (imposed) proximity during lockdown. Covid has imposed ways of living and working for which our cities are not adapted. Many people have found that by eliminating hours spent commuting to and from work, they can enjoy more productive time for other activities. The way of working has shifted with COVID-19, especially for individuals aged 20 to 40, who are eager for more time for family and social life. Urban choices were implemented very quickly and have since been made permanent: multiplication of cycle paths, enlargement of terraces, revegetation and pedestrianization of street. If the Covid-19 crisis has popularized the concept of 15-Minute City, it is because this concept is particularly well suited to meet the challenges of our times and its crisis. It was then recognized by various international organizations (UN Habitat, World Economic Forum, IPCC…) as a resilient and sustainable city model.

ET: What forward-looking technologies are being used to advance the cause of the 15-minute city?

CM: The 15-minute city is a “smart and human city”: an urban model that is anchored in modernity by its sustainability and humanity, not its technology. The 15 minute city is part of a society in which digital technologies and uses are omnipresent. Physical and digital do not oppose each other but complement each other, because proximity is not only a metric: it is cultural, social and technological. Technologies are part of the 15-minute cities, since they facilitate and enrich the daily experience of individuals. Technologies are omnipresent in our urban spaces, in our homes, in our modes of mobility and will continue to be in the 15 minute cities. Technologies are also part of the making of the 15-minute cities. At the Chaire ETI, we use data technologies to better understand cities and their inhabitants. They help make choices and take direction to better urban organization.

ET: What role do regulations play in the design and development of districts?

CM: Planning regulations are extremely important, as they determine the future of a city. They set the framework for what is possible and what is not. Local regulations can sometimes be too precise and prevent urban renewal. Regulations are essential to protect land from exploitation and human use. Regulations need to be updated as societies evolve. In France, I have observed that the principles of sustainable development are being anchored in applicable town planning regulations. This makes it possible to impose, over the long term, a shared vision for the desirable development of an area. On a larger scale, national laws and European directives are real factors in the transformation of territories. They set a course that is shared by all. In addition, the lifting of certain restrictions is sometimes very important, to authorize practices that are better for the environment (e.g.: reusing grey water to water plants).

ET: Changing existing structures and functions within cities is a long term process. How do you ensure supportive stakeholders across political periods?

CM: Elected representatives and stakeholders fluctuate, and it can be difficult to stay the course on commitments or a committed transformation. Although I haven't had to deal with this yet, I think there are a few things that can help avoid it:

• a clear guideline, in which the general interest is explicitly demonstrated
• the support of associations and citizens
• regulation that acknowledges the transformations underway
• a sufficiently large budget to see the transitions through to the end

ET: What is your prediction for the next few years? What are the topics we should focus on with Re-Building Europe 2023?

CM: I think we're all aware today of the major challenges we face in "re-building" our cities and so Europe. We know our weaknesses, the problems with our lifestyles and with our planet, the social and housing problems. Proximity, encompassing local understanding, community engagement, and regional cooperation, is vital for rebuilding Europe, ensuring that initiatives are tailored to specific needs, fostering unity, and promoting stability. By focusing on these principles of proximity, the rebuilding process can become more effective, inclusive, and beneficial for all involved communities. This is particularly true with the challenge posed by the end of the war and the reconstruction of Ukraine.