Table of contents for N. 131 in Topos

Oh, hi there! I’m topos, the leading international magazine for urban planning from Munich, Germany. For me, everything revolves around the sustainable city of the future. Online, I spend 365 days a year dealing with the question: how will we live sustainably, healthily and technologized in the world’s future metropolises? In addition to my home www.toposmagazine.com, I am published four times a year as a print magazine (that’s what you are holding in your hands right now!). I address everyone who is interested in the smarter, greener city of the future and who works in, on and with the city. My readers include CEOs, mayors, architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers, digitalization specialists, researchers – simply everyone that is interested in urban development! My great passion is finding and analyzing…

Imagine a city not organised by asphalt or skyline, but by time. A city where everything essential to daily life - work, school, groceries, leisure - exists within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your doorstep. It sounds poetic, or perhaps suspiciously efficient. Yet the 15-minute city is neither a new utopia nor an urbanist fever dream. It is a spatial philosophy born out of temporal constraints, a proposition that cities should not only be smart but also kind to human rhythms. In an age where digital acceleration increasingly defines the tempo of life, the 15-minute city slows things down to human scale. And in doing so, it promises a transformation that is at once radical and refreshingly simple. The concept, developed by urbanist Carlos Moreno in 2016, shot…

PROS time savings shorter distances mean more time can be spent with family, friends and leisure activities instead of having to travel long distances environmental friendliness the lower CO2 emissions and the possibility of greening traffic areas contribute to climate neutrality promotion of health more exercise through foot-paths and cycle paths promotes the physical and mental health of residents strengthening the sense of community proximity to neighbors and local facilities promotes social interaction and neighbourly coexistence better quality of life less stress due to shorter distances and better infrastructure increase general well-being efficient use of space the reallocation of traffic areas creates new resources for green spaces, recreation and socialising CONS gentrification effects there is a risk that poorer population groups will be pushed out of city centres high planning…

Images of Dutch cities are dominated by small brick buildings attached to each other, often facing a water canal with spaces for biking and walking in front. Of course, not every settlement in the Netherlands meets this stereotype, but cycling and the Netherlands belong together. Foreigners visiting the country are surprised by the sheer number of bikes, the infrastructure provided for them, and the respect bikers enjoy within urban traffic. Therefore, the idea to reach all necessary services within a short distance from home, either on foot or by bike, is almost ingrained in the urban fabric of the country. So it is not surprising that Utrecht has a vision: In 2040 it wants to be a 10-minute city. Utrecht - fourth largest city Utrecht, situated in the heart of…

How and with what objective was C40 founded? C40 was founded in 2005 by a group of forward-thinking mayors who recognised that cities must lead the response to the climate emergency. The organisation was created to drive meaningful action by connecting major cities and helping them implement ambitious climate solutions. Today, C40 is a global network of nearly 100 cities, representing over 700 million people and a quarter of the global economy. Our mission is to halve emissions from C40 cities by 2030 while fostering healthier, more resilient, and equitable communities. What role does the 15-minute city play in the work of C40? Today, urban areas are growing 50 percent faster than the population, and if we don’t act, they could triple in size by 2050. Europe is the worst…

As an advocate for an intersectional, socially and climate-just mobility transition, I often ask myself: Why do we even have to justify demanding quality of life for all? To me, the idea of the 15-minute city is not a utopia—it’s a return to something we already knew: villages, neighbourhoods, communities that functioned without cars. Where the bakery was just around the corner, the cinema within walking distance, the daycare centre in the neighbourhood, the job reachable by bike. Where life wasn’t divided by streets but connected through public spaces. Today, we need this structure more urgently than ever. We live in a time of multiple crises: climate, social inequality, health burdens, loneliness. A 15-minute city is a tool to address these challenges with humanity and pragmatism. What Proximity Enables A…

Fifteen minutes. That’s about how long it takes to cook a nice portion of pasta, to walk an urban-kilometre, or to doom-scroll mindlessly through social media. But what if fifteen minutes were enough to access everything that makes life truly liveable - work, education, culture, companionship and fresh bread? And what if the future of our cities depended not on grand plans or glittering skylines, but on this humble unit of time? The 15-minute city is not a fantasy spun by nostalgic urbanists or digital dreamers. It is a radical rethinking of space through the lens of time. And it touches a nerve. Because while our cities grow ever larger, our sense of connection grows smaller. While mobility networks stretch across continents, our neighbourhoods fracture. The distance between home and…

The ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, Oxford’s nickname coined by Victorian poet Matthew Arnold, already reveals the importance of historical architecture for the city in the centre of southern England. Arnold, who lived from 1822 to 1888, must have seen the city’s buildings largely without motorised traffic though. In Oxford, and the city is certainly not alone in this, today’s traffic masses meet an urban structure from previous centuries. In order to improve traffic in the city and to reduce congestion, Oxfordshire County Council decided to implement various measures in Oxford. One of these, passed in 2022, is the introduction of so-called traffic filters. The idea: Traffic is to be reduced and bus services improved by only allowing certain vehicles or those with a permit to use certain roads during certain…

Mr Moreno, what was the decisive moment or the key insight that led you to develop the concept of the 15-minute city? Was there a personal experience or a scientific insight that led you down this path? The 15-minute city combines my scientific and sensitive approach. I'm a scientist with an IT background, and I first became interested in cities during the 'smart cities' boom in the early 2000s. While studying urban organization, living in Paris for many years and traveling world capital cities, I observed the challenges of urban life, including long commutes, traffic congestion, and limited access to essential services. I became increasingly aware of two things: the diminishing health and quality of life for urban inhabitants and the escalating climatic concerns. To understand cities, we need to…

Amid global challenges, such as climate change and urban sprawl, the intricacies of urban planning are becoming increasingly complex. For instance, Nantes and its surrounding communes have experienced a 22 percent population growth over the past 25 years, with an additional 100,000 residents expected by 2030. In response to these crises, the city has heavily invested in research and innovation to balance a high quality of life with urban development. Hereby, Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes and President of Nantes Métropole, makes a clear stance: "The challenge of the century is that of the climate. Two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions come from large cities. Metropoles are therefore part of the problem but also part of the solution. The Nantes Métropole has firmly committed to defining a sustainable trajectory that responds…

A walkable, liveable neighbourhood is neither a new invention, nor is it a concept limited to certain global cities. However, in the Pacific Northwest, the proudly progressive and nature-rooted American city of Portland, Oregon stands out for its diligence in measuring urban liveability in the standard unit of minutes. Quantifying the “completeness” of its city fabric through a framework it calls the “20-Minute Neighbourhood”, Portland has employed its own data-based approach to city planning for decades, since the 20-minute framework was first born by way of a planning document. And over the past twenty years, the city government has been persistently tracking residents’ proximity to the many components of a healthy urban life. Though not all of Portland’s original goals have been met, a look at the data demonstrates compelling…

Tallinn’s origins date back to the 11th century, when the first settlement was established on what is now known as Toompea Hill. By the Middle Ages, the city had become a significant trading hub. As a member of the Hanseatic League, much of Tallinn’s commerce with Northern Europe was conducted via maritime routes, which brought it considerable prosperity. Over the centuries, Tallinn came under Danish, German, Swedish and Russian rule before Estonia declared its independence in 1918 and named Tallinn as its capital. Historically, the city was divided into two parts: Toompea Hill and the Lower Town. Toompea was and still remains the seat of national power. The merging of these two districts now forms the historic centre of Tallinn. In the renowned Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage…

They’re coming for your car. They want to rip the steering wheel from your hands, deflate your tires, and force you - yes, force you - to walk to the bakery. Maybe even talk to your neighbours. If that’s not tyranny, what is? Welcome to the 15-minute city - the newest villain in the pantheon of urbanist conspiracy theories. Forget chemtrails. Forget 5G mind control. The real threat is city planners armed with zoning maps and an inexplicable hatred of cul-de-sacs. But how did a planning concept originally designed to make life easier become the target of global hysteria? As always, it starts with good intentions. And as every conspiracy theorist knows, good intentions are the first sign of evil. Dangerous sidewalks Carlos Moreno, the professor behind the 15-minute city…

In an era in which the construction sector is responsible for 40 percent of global CO₂ emissions, the Copenhagen-based architecture practice COBE is calling for a change in the way cities, buildings and landscapes are developed. With an ambitious approach - “futureproof architecture” - COBE shows how architecture not only creates spaces, but also makes a positive contribution to overcoming global challenges. At the heart of COBE’s philosophy is the conviction that exceptional design is not defined by aesthetics alone, but by its ability to transform, inspire people and create lasting benefits. The buildings designed by COBE are intended to be accessible and enriching for all in everyday life - from the very beginning and for future generations. Their projects are deeply rooted in the urban context and reality of…

Pontevedra, the capital of the province of Rías Baixas in the Spanish region of Galicia, impresses with its charming medieval town centre. Cobblestone alleyways meander between historic squares, while venerable churches and arcaded houses decorated with coats of arms characterise the cityscape. According to legend, the Greek legendary hero Teucros landed on the west coast of Galicia after the Trojan War on his wandering journey across the sea and founded the town there. Pontevedra experienced an economic boom in the Middle Ages. As an important port on the Atlantic coast, the city played a central role in maritime trade, which helped the region to achieve considerable prosperity. However, with the increasing silting up of the port in the 18th century, the economy began to decline. It was not until the…

How is public space reinterpreted in the concept of the 15-minute city in Paris? In particular, how are spatial conflicts between mobility, meeting zones and green spaces resolved? What design principles guide the redesign? In the wake of the health crisis in 2020 and traffic restrictions, the concept of the 15-minute city has been widely developed in many cities. In Paris, authorising movement within a radius of 1km, i.e. a 15-minute walk, revealed the strengths, shortcomings and expectations of new balances at the local level. The need to increase the amount of accessible green space and meeting places in public areas has become a priority. This was reflected in particular in the ‘streets to schools’ strategy. Tested as part of the ‘deconfinement’ process to respect physical distance and health issues,…

Urban development has long been seen as a matter of big ideas: master plans, neighbourhood developments, visionary renderings. But while major cities around the world are discussing the "15-minute city" as a model for the future, Sweden is taking a decisive step closer - literally on its own doorstep. The One Minute City initiative focuses not on the whole neighbourhood, but on the immediate street space. It is these few metres of asphalt that decide whether a street remains simply a traffic space or becomes a place of exchange, deceleration and encounter. What appears to be a detail is in fact a lever for far-reaching change. The street becomes a public space again in its original sense: a place of negotiation, participation and community. And the change begins not with…

Anna Breitfuss is studying Media and Communications in Munich and has been supporting the editorial team at Georg Media as a working student since September 2024. Originally coming from a working background in the health sector, she likes to face challenges and explore new topics. a.breitfuss@georg-media.de Juliane von Hagen holds a Diplom-Ingenieur in Architecture, a Doktor-Ingenieur in Planning and a Master of Science in Urban Planning. Next to running “stadtforschen.de”, freelance author for different magazines. vonhagen@stadtforschen.de Julia Maria Korn studied art history, archaeology, and history in Bonn. She joined the team at Georg Media at the beginning of 2024 and is primarily responsible for Restauro magazine. j.korn@georg-media.de Julia Treichel studied landscape architecture at the Technical University of Munich. She has worked for SSR, raumzeug and Valentien+Valentien, among others. She deals,…