Published in the magazine Ciudades Iberoamericanas, this exclusive interview with Carlos Moreno explores the cultural, social, and political foundations required to implement the “15-minute city” model in Ibero-American capitals. Renowned for this globally adopted urban concept, Moreno stresses that proximity is not just a question of geography, but of dignity, equity, and quality of life.

Far beyond a matter of urban design or technology, building a city of proximity demands a profound cultural shift: one that values local life, neighborhood economies, public trust, and shared time. The interview identifies key challenges such as socio-spatial inequality, urban informality, and fragmented governance, while also highlighting the strengths unique to the region: dense cityscapes, vibrant public spaces, and resilient community networks.

Carlos Moreno draws from real-world examples across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula—such as Santiago de Chile, Montevideo, La Plata, Medellín, Montería, and cities in Portugal and Spain—to show how the vision of the 15-minute city is already taking root in diverse ways. He calls on leaders to abandon outdated models centered around the car and embrace urban transformation driven by everyday needs, citizen participation, and public well-being.

This interview is a powerful call to action: to reimagine the city not as a space for acceleration and consumption, but as a human ecosystem built around time, proximity, and social ties.

Read the full magazine (Spanish):
https://ciudadesiberoamericanas.org/actualidad/biblioteca/visor/

Read in Portuguese:
https://ciudadesiberoamericanas.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Revistapt.pdf

 

️ Related article — O Estado de S. Paulo (October 2025):
https://www.estadao.com.br/150-anos/sp-em-transformacao/nos-tornamos-centauros-metade-humano-e-metade-carro-diz-criador-da-cidade-de-15-minutos/

New Book – A cidade de 15 minutos
Carlos Moreno’s latest book, A cidade de 15 minutos (BEĨ Editora, 2025), expands on these ideas and presents a deeper reflection on how proximity can reshape urban life in Brazil and beyond.
Available now: https://bei.com.br/post/lancamento-a-cidade-de-15-minutos-carlos-moreno/90