A geospatial analysis of Swedish 15-minute cities

Abstract

The “15-minute city” (15MC) aimed at creating vibrant, sustainable and resilient urban areas by ensuring that essential amenities, services and activities are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from residences, has recently become an urban “buzzword”. This study employs a geospatial analysis to visualise data with a spatial components in order to identify notable patterns and trends. The study discusses the presence of 15MCs internationally and then shifts focus to Swedish cities. The prevalence of 15MCs is examined across all municipalities, before focussing on the three largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. The study finds that 15MCs are primarily located in city centres but also show a certain proclivity towards the western regions of the cities. The growth of 15MCs is linked to increasing gentrification. More research into “domicology” is proposed as a potential future strategy for developing adaptable and sustainable 15MC constructs in future urban planning.