Element WA chief executive James Curtis pens his thoughts on the "15-minute city" concept.
The latest target for conspiracy theorists globally is “the 15-minute city”, a design concept that puts your daily needs like work, food, healthcare, schools, arts, leisure and social services within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your home.
While the conspiracy theorists’ fears are reminiscent of scenes from the George Orwell classic 1984, there is an empathetic recognition that there has been an increased level of isolation for many over the last few years globally in response to COVID-19.
As a community we have rapidly becoming more digitally and globally connected, yet our need for a local connection and a sense of belonging has increased.
This ‘15-minute city’ or neighbourhood approach to designing communities is nothing new, albeit with different labels.
Think about the concept of the butcher, the baker and the modern cocktail maker or ‘that it takes a village to raise a child’. The concept has perhaps been under stress in recent decades as populations grow, cities sprawl, new communities are established and society grapples with the impact of the digital revolution.
The good news is that what we thought was lost, like the corner store, is having a renaissance across WA, think the inner city, to suburbs like East Victoria Park and Inglewood, or the larger centres such as Joondalup and Midland to the regional towns like Cowaramup and Augusta.
These places all have in common, vibrant neighbourhoods built around our homes, our job, our local club, to our favourite restaurant or the dentist we should visit more often.
Getting us to the important things in life is where the sustainable transport network is key in modern neighbourhood design.
With active transport options such as cycling and walking paths connecting us to the train station, the school, shops and essential services, this form of neighbourhood transport reduces unnecessary travel, our carbon footprint and ensures there are accessible options for all.
On the back of big transport and infrastructure spend in WA, we are on the cusp of unlocking vibrant active precincts accessible to the locals and the tourists that arrive to our shores.
While they say the journey is the most important thing in life, when designing neighbourhoods, it’s the destination and experience that’s just as important.
That’s where public open spaces are key.
The sense of belonging from the 7am dog walkers, to the family picnic or a game of bowls at the local club, either way, effective design of public spaces with supporting amenities that are inclusive and accessible are critical to delivering positive cultural and wellbeing outcomes, sense of community and increasing our volunteerism.
Behind any great neighbourhoods are our local businesses that create the local jobs and a sustainable local economy.
It’s those in living in the community who build small and medium businesses that service our daily needs from restaurants, to shops, to the local barbers.
For these businesses to thrive, we require the critical mass and for that we need to ensure diverse and accessible housing options with the essential services to support the needs of those that live within our community.
So whilst the ‘15 minute city’ label may be the source of minor conspiracy, if we unpack the concept and dispel the myths, we have a great opportunity to co-create vibrant and engaged local communities that reflect a contemporary and diverse Western Australia.
