Porte de Montmartre at the rhythm of the 15-Minute City

This research revolves around the investigation of the claim that the 15-Minute City facilitates urban development towards a more sustainable development, providing more accessible services, fostering an ecological use of facilities, and creating occasions for people’s interactions. It does so by investigating the case study of the neighbourhood of Porte de Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It qualifies as a single case study and a research of qualitative nature, for it pursues an investigation of officially released material, supported by semi-structured interview conducted with particularly engaged citizens i.e. those representing cultural and social association in the neighbourhood. Central to this study is the ‘use’ of the territory, for time and space in the urban dynamics are understood as socially constructed, and therefore continuously shaped by relations immersed in a geography of power. After having contextualised the neighbourhood of Porte de Montmartre, the findings are organised combining information emerging from the desk research and the interviews in categories relevant for identifying and presenting relevant themes. These categories revolves around different sphere of life e.g. commercial, related to health care and safety, and two main tools central to the 15-Minute City i.e. the use of school yards and the Kiosque Citoyen. Finally, it is revealed how the 15-Minute City does not present a revolutionary character, nor is to be considered inclusive or democratic as a policy. In fact, as a policy the 15-Minute City has to be understood as an orientation, while the real change is expected to come from the local actors. The local reality of Porte de Montmartre appears to functioning in meeting its residents’ needs and desire, especially though collaboration - although improvements can be made to encourage different social groups to mingle. Interestingly, the cultural and social associations seems to be the strength of the territory, instrumental in maintaining and stimulating social life.