Is Joburg becoming a 15-Minute City?

"As Joburg shifts towards hybrid work and suburban hubs start buzzing like mini city centres, we might finally be heading towards something better: the rise of the 15-minute city. The idea, popularised by French urbanist Carlos Moreno, is simple: everything you need (work, food, fitness, childcare, errands, downtime) should be within a 15-minute walk of home. Paris made it famous. But Joburg, with its scattered nodes and endless commute culture, might be the city that needs it most."

"Paul Keursten, CEO of Workshop17, puts it bluntly, "We burn hours in gridlock commutes to sit in offices in congested business districts, trading time, well-being, and productivity in the process." Hybrid work cracked open the door to a different way of living, one where your office isn't a destination, but part of the rhythm of your day."

"And Jozi's neighbourhoods are responding. Rosebank, Linden, Melrose Arch, Dunkeld, Bryanston, Fourways, and Hyde Park are evolving into micro-cities where you can grab coffee, work, train, shop, run errands, and meet friends without crossing half the province. Co-working spaces in these areas aren't just offices, they're anchors for a more liveable lifestyle."

Persistent traffic and long commutes have driven a shift toward hybrid work and localised daily living. The 15-minute city concept calls for placing work, services, fitness, childcare and leisure within short walking distance of homes. Several Joburg neighbourhoods are evolving into micro-centres with co-working spaces, shops, gyms and parks providing local anchors. Daily routines adjust as residents fit gym sessions into lunch breaks, pop home between meetings, and patronise cafes and restaurants on weekdays. Redistributing infrastructure into multiple local centres reduces pressure on central business districts and shortens travel times.

Read at Time Out Johannesburg