As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympics, one might ask how the local population will maintain their daily routines with the influx of visitors and resulting congestion. 

Paris aims to become the city of proximity, where residents can find everything that they need within 15 minutes from home. Reducing congestion and the use of cars in urban developments is a key element to create a circular city.  

Could this be translated into local quarter-hour cities, villages and neighbourhoods? Floors asked Dr Jeremy Gibberd, a professional architect with specialist expertise in sustainable built environments, to explain this concept. 

New urbanity 

Several cities around the world are also working on this form of new urbanity. The “20-minute neighbourhoods” that were initiated in Portland at the end of the 2000s have already inspired several French metropolises, such as Rennes and Bordeaux. The goal is to limit polluting travel and improve the living environment. 

The methodologies to achieve this include: 

• Developing new services for each district based on a new economic model for local businesses. 
• Create diverse yet self-sufficient communities. 
• Features include housing, employment, food, recreation and amenities, accessible without dependence on cars. 

A short walk 

Walking distances from services in North Africa and Europe. Credit: https://www.cityaccessmap.com/

Given that most of the South African population do not have a private vehicle, reducing the amount of time needed to walk to access services is important. These services include public transport nodes, parks, gyms, libraries, restaurants, supermarkets, cinema, pharmacies, clinics, hospitals and schools. 

How do African cities compare? 

Case study: Boiteko Junction, Botswana   

How can more circular cities, villages and neighbourhoods be developed locally? Dr Gibberd shares the case study of Boiteko Junction in Serowe, Botswana.  

This shows that existing urban and village nodes may have some or all of the criteria of 15-minute neighbourhoods. The Boiteko node has primary and secondary schools, a hospital, food retail, a pharmacy, banking, cafes, government and private sector workplaces and housing. A focussed approach could ensure that this node and many others could be developed to create more walkable safe neighbourhoods that aligns well with local needs and culture.  

There are many advantages of circular neighbourhoods. This includes: 

A 15-minute walking distance from services in Durban is only possible for 6% of the urban population. https://www.cityaccessmap.com/

• Avoiding the need for vehicles and the associated costs, emissions, accidents and import requirements. 
• Improved levels of health and fitness. 
• Less time spent commuting. 
• Safe, less polluted environments. 
• Children being able walk to school, adults able to walk to work. 
• Improved social interaction and quality of life. 

Issue: Creating circular cities. 

Solution: Rethinking the location of services, to be within a 15-minute walk.  

Urban facts and figures: 

• Cities occupy 3% of the earth’s surface, but are responsible for 60-80% of global energy consumption.  
• They contribute 75% of global carbon emissions, with transport and buildings being among the largest contributors.  
• The manufacture of building materials and constructure of built environments is responsible for extracting 75% of the world’s natural resources.  
• Cities and urban living are associated with large-scale waste.  
• In 2012, the average European used 16 tons of materials per year, of which only about 40% is recycled or reused.  
• In Europe: 
  • Cars are parked 92% of the time. 
  • 31% food is wasted. 
  • Office spaces are only used 35 to 50% of the time. 

Full thanks and acknowledgement go to https://jeremygibberd.com/ and https://www.paris.fr/dossiers/ for the information in this article.