Carlos Moreno on the 15-Minute City and Its Artistic Inspirations

Urbanist Carlos Moreno, professor at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and creator of the "15-minute city" concept, discusses his artistic influences and vision for sustainable urbanism. Moreno cites Leonardo da Vinci, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Lee Miller, Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jorge Luis Borges, and Gabriel García Márquez as inspirations. He highlights his collaboration with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to transform Paris through the 15-minute city model, emphasizing the importance of Genius Loci and blending tradition with innovation. In Italy, Moreno presented the LOC – Loreto Open Community project in Milan, winner of the C40 Reinventing Cities competition, as a concrete application of his vision. He advises young urbanists to cultivate a holistic view, remain optimistic, and embrace science. Moreno stresses the need for urban regeneration, decarbonization, and fostering joyful proximity to address climate challenges by 2050.