The emergence of Johannesburg’s Waterfall City smart city is a major shift in urban planning in Africa. Anchored in the innovative 15-minute city concept, this multi-use municipality is experiencing rapid growth and charting a new course for urban development on the continent.
The 15-minute city concept, conceptualized by Carlos Moreno, seeks to reinvent the way we live in cities. Rather than being scattered across vast expanses, the 15-minute city advocates compact neighbourhoods where all essential services are accessible on foot within a maximum of 15 minutes. This approach aims to promote soft mobility, such as walking and cycling, while allowing residents to devote more time to themselves and their social relationships, thereby strengthening the urban fabric and quality of life.
Four core principles guide the construction of an effective 15-minute city: proximity, density, diversity and digitalization. Proximity ensures quick access to urban services, reducing travel times and promoting wellness and leisure activities. Density, on the other hand, allows for the concentration of facilities and resources in limited spaces, promoting an equitable distribution of infrastructure. Diversity, both physical and cultural, ensures a mixed environment conducive to social development. Finally, digitalization plays a crucial role in urban safety and the promotion of soft modes of transport.
Waterfall City in Johannesburg perfectly embodies these principles. As a smart city, it harmoniously combines the dimensions of connection, commerce, wellness and community to offer integrated environments where work, leisure and daily life come together. Thanks to careful planning, this city offers secure residential spaces, schools, hospitals, parks and commercial infrastructure accessible within a few minutes’ walk. Waterfall City is thus positioned as a leading urban destination, combining modernity, sustainability and quality of life.
In short, Waterfall City in Johannesburg is a shining example of the potential of 15-minute cities to transform the way we live in urban areas. By adopting these innovative principles, municipalities can create vibrant, sustainable and inclusive spaces that are conducive to the development of all. This emerging model paves the way for more human, connected and environmentally friendly urbanization, offering new perspectives for the cities of the future.