Позитивные изменения. Города будущего. Тематический выпуск, 2022 / Positive changes. The cities of the future. Special issue, 2022

Speaking of innovations in urban planning, it is impossible not to mention Bjarke Ingels of Denmark, who is also often called the architect of the future. The principles of Ingels’ projects are: to build for eternity, not for "disposable" architecture; a large landscaping area; multifunctional nature (from social infrastructure in residential complexes to a sports and entertainment complex on the roof of a garbage incineration plant). Ingels himself says that he designs a living environment with the psychological needs of the individual in mind and with the creation of benefits for society. In his manifesto[23], presented in the form of a comic book, the architect cites the evolutionary formula "survival of the fittest" and proposes an architecture that can help humanity adapt to the changes of the future. The title of the manifesto is "Yes Is More", meaning that by saying yes to society, one is saying yes to oneself and the future.

Another interesting element of Bjarke Ingels’ philosophy, which can be applied to all potential projects of the city of the future, is that the city is not finished content; it is a form, which can be adapted to conditions that are unknown in advance, and take into account the public good.

THE 15-MINUTE CITY

The concept of the 15-Minute City is that all the places a resident needs are within a 15-minute walk or ride by last-mile transport[24] (bicycle, scooter, electric scooter, etc.). Places for living, study, work, recreation, sports and health facilities are not divided into "bedroom" communities and business districts, but are mixed within the framework of a single district, thus avoiding daily commute.

The concept emerged during the development of the New York City master plan in the 1920s and had the following characteristics:

• only local roads can be located within a neighborhood, and all highways must be placed outside the neighborhood;

• the school must accommodate all children in the neighborhood and be accessible without crossing major roads;

• each neighborhood must have its own park;

• stores should not be located in the center, but on the perimeter of the neighborhood.

In 2021, this model was revived during the discussion of the master plan of Paris with the social researchers. The authors claim that it is designed to increase proximity and social interaction, as well as to boost solidarity and good neighborly relations (Moreno et al., 2021).

This was also the logic behind the "Cities of the Future" concept proposed by the Gladway Foundation for the Development of Media Projects and Social Programs. In 2016–2020, as part of the Citi Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Program, the Gladway Foundation implemented the idea of neighborhood centers within a walking distance in Moscow. According to the authors of the concept, neighborhood centers are the foundation of cities of the future, creating a "social fabric" for economic and territorial development. "Without neighborhood centers (as a comprehensive "city-oriented" public space — editor’s note), there is no future for the city," the authors stressed at the VI conference "Factory of Spaces. Time," held in October 2022 in Moscow.

The «15-minute city» can be the basis for the creation of the City of the Future.

Interestingly, "My Neighborhood" city program, currently implemented in Moscow, is also based on the concept of a 15-minute city. This was announced by Mayor Sergey Sobyanin on the sidelines of SPIEF-2021, in an interview with "Russia 24" TV channel.

The size of the "15 Minute District" is an area of 3x3 kilometers (900 hectares). "This area is small enough for a single large developer to complete. But construction companies usually specialize in one single thing (housing, offices, etc.), while here we have to build everything at once," says co-founder and chief architect of UNK project design bureau, member of the Union of Moscow Architects Yuli Borisov, as quoted by SberPro Media[25].

Summing up this part of the review, let us emphasize: the 15-minute city as a concept can be the basis for the creation of the City of the Future (by even a single developer). In addition, this concept is the closest to the implementation of pilot projects. The principles mentioned above must also be respected: the natural proximity of people to nature (biophilia), non-extractive architecture, building for eternity, the city as a form that can be adapted to conditions that are unknown in advance, and take into account the public good.

CONTEMPORARY PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE URBAN DESIGN

THE SAN MARINO DECLARATION