FUTURE CITIES

GREEN, FRIENDLY AND CLEAN: HOW WE COULD REIMAGINE URBAN LIFE AFTER THE PANDEMIC

- IAN EVENDEN

The world's cities are changing. Paris's Champs-Élysées, one of the most gridlocked roads in the world, is going to become a giant garden. Barcelona has closed off its oldest quarters to cars. And now Milan is on the path to becoming the world's first 15-minute city (read on to find out what that means).

It seems the pandemic, for some, became a moment to reimagine how we see the future of our oldest cities. Why? Well, there was a small exodus out of our urban spaces during the pandemic. It was the slightest of pauses in the net migration from rural to urban areas that has taken place for decades. Those who could afford to leave, left. For those who remained, the lockdowns and restricted movement shone a harsh light on most cities' biggest flaws: clogged roads, polluted air and a dearth of green, communal spaces.

Now, it seems that pause has inspired the world's urban planners to rethink how cities around the world can evolve to take a different course. At this fork in the road, here's how our cities could change course after the pandemic.

CREATE 15-MINUTE CITIES

"THE 15-MINUTE CITY IS AN INTUITIVE CONCEPT AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER TANGIBLE CHANGE"

An idea that's catching on in capitals around the world is the 15-minute city. This changes the city from a dense centre with surrounding suburbs into a series of hubs within which are shopping and entertainment facilities. None of these hubs is more than a 15-minute walk or cycle from where people live, and many people may live close to more than one hub.