One of the interesting consequences of our newfound love of hybrid work is that large cities might become less dense. More decentralised, as fewer people will have to go downtown for work. Is that such a bad thing though?
For most of my adult life, I lived in large cities. I have always defined myself as an urbanite who loves busy city centres and detests the suburb. In London, I’ve lived so centrally for almost two decades that it just didn’t make sense for me to have a car. Like New Yorkers, I appreciate having all the conveniences one could want right on my doorstep from Lagree classes to a myriad of food options.
But, like so many others, I spent the lockdowns away from the city. I have gotten used to seeing trees and nesting birds when I look out the window. I’d also gotten used to not commuting. But I still like the convenience and buzz of urban life. I still like the idea of being able to get anything I’d want; and fast.
In my mind, sprawling low-density cities are not like a collection of suburbs. And I’m intrigued by the 15-minute city idea popularised by Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris. A 15-minute city still looks urban, but decentralised, with access to everything you would need only a 15-minute walk or bike ride away.
If employers allow employees to work from local branches or shared offices instead of commuting to central HQs, like one of the large UK banks does, the need for large city centre financial and office districts will diminish somewhat. So instead of commuting for hours a day into or through a city, you can organise your life in a much more humane, less stressful way. And still enjoy the urban life. What you’d lose with less time to listen to podcasts, you’d gain in living your own life.
The concept of the 15-minute city is spreading widely, which is definitely a good thing. If you live in a pleasant environment that is not chock-full of cars, with everything you need for a full life, including jobs, food, recreation, green space, housing, medical offices, small businesses, only 15 minutes away – doesn’t that sound very pleasant? (Assuming you are not living a secretive double life, in which case this is probably your nightmare scenario.) Canary Wharf in London has been trying to create something similar and it is clear they can’t bank on being just a financial district anymore (sorry).
One of my favourite things to do in cities is walking. Walking for hours, with little stops in cafes, museums, a small restaurant, a bookstore, a candy store, a pub, a pretty park. In Paris, as in London, these walks inevitably take me across a bridge or two. Standing on a bridge, the views over these magnificent cities is always awe-inspiring. Slowly turn 360 degrees and you see magnificent buildings, all sandy coloured in one city and eclectic in shape and colour in the other.
Crossing one of the bridges over these rivers that slices through their cities is like entering a different world. The North and the South of the Thames, just like the Rive Gauche and the Rive Droite, are different in sensations and attitudes that might not be obvious at first.
But even if you don’t know intimately a big city, as you walk through different neighbourhoods you will inevitably be hit by different smells. Every neighbourhood has a different vibe and a different smell, a different sensation. I love them all.
I love the clinical cleanliness and glass skyscrapers of the business districts, the chaos of the markets and merchants, the irreverence of student districts, the bohemian vibes of those home to artists, the highly caffeinated crowds in startup hubs, the snootiness of the poshest hotels and restaurants, the excitement of street food markets, the picnics in the parks, the warm spicy smells of Chinatowns and Lebanese restaurants, as much as the cultured politeness at the splendid museums and the cafes buzzing with excited chatter.
I love the idea of the 15-minute city – especially within a metropolis. A place where you can live your busy days in a commute-free way with fast access to everything you need. While also being able to join the urban jungle to discover and to fill yourself up with a variety of vibes, smells, cultures and cuisines. Because the best part of living in a metropolis is experiencing diversity and foreign influences without the need for a passport.
To soak it all in and let it wash over you. To inspire you and to challenge you.
I am all for 15-minute cities. But I wouldn’t want to lose the wild urban jungle.
Pic: Shoreditch, Maltby st market London; Canal Saint-Martin Paris; Southbank London; Paris