A city within 15 minutes
Autumn will soon arrive in the Western Hemisphere, and it remains one of my favorite seasons to travel. The cooler weather makes walking more enjoyable, and I find that some of the best discoveries in a city happen when exploring it on foot.
Among the places I have visited, Paris, Barcelona, Melbourne and Copenhagen are four of my favorite cities. They are very different, yet they share something I have come to appreciate: many things you need in everyday life are not very far away.
‘City of proximities’
This brings to mind the idea of the 15-minute city.
The principle is simple. Many daily needs—food, shops, schools, parks, healthcare, recreation, and, ideally, work—should be accessible within a short walk or bicycle ride from home.
It does not mean people are expected to remain within 15 minutes of their homes. The idea is to make longer trips a choice rather than a necessity for every basic need.
Paris helped popularize the concept through its “city of proximities.” Barcelona has its superblocks, Melbourne promotes 20-minute neighborhoods, while Copenhagen shows how walking, cycling and public transport can work together. The approaches vary, but proximity is at the heart of all of them.
So where could we see this in the Philippines?
Mixed-use districts
Quezon City and Pasig have explored ideas related to the model, while some private mixed-use developments already demonstrate many of its characteristics. But I find the Makati central business district (CBD) particularly interesting.
I have seen Makati change over the years. What was once primarily a place people traveled to for work has become increasingly diverse and interconnected. Within the CBD today are offices, residences, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, schools, churches, medical facilities, gyms, cinemas and many other services.
Social spaces
There are also places to simply spend time. Ayala Triangle, Salcedo Park and Legazpi Active Park provide pockets of green within a dense business district. Weekend markets bring another dimension to neighborhood life.
The pedestrian connections have improved as well. Covered sidewalks, underpasses and elevated walkways allow people to move between many destinations without getting into a car. One Ayala further connects public transportation, offices, retail and pedestrian movement.
This is important because being close is not the same as being walkable.
A destination may be 10 minutes away, but that means little if the journey involves broken sidewalks, difficult crossings, heavy traffic or walking under the midday sun. Good walkability requires continuous, safe and comfortable pedestrian routes.
Equitable access
For Makati, this may mean looking beyond distance and improving the experience between destinations: more shade and trees, safer crossings, continuous sidewalks and better connections between developments. In our climate, a shaded 15-minute walk is very different from an exposed one.
There is also a bigger question: who can actually live
within those 15 minutes? If most people working in the CBD still travel long distances every morning and evening, then proximity remains a privilege for those who can afford to live nearby.
Housing diversity and accessibility therefore have to be part of the conversation. The 15-minute-city model is intended to improve equitable access to everyday needs, not simply create convenient enclaves.
More time living
Makati is not a 15-minute city yet, but perhaps, it does not need that label. What matters is that many of the ingredients are already there.
Our cities do not have to become another Paris, Barcelona, Melbourne or Copenhagen. We can develop our own version—one suited to our climate and the way Filipinos live.
Perhaps 15 minutes is not really the destination. The better goal is a city where we spend less time getting to the things we need, and more time living.
