Application of the 15-Minute City Criteria to a Metropolitan Area: The Case Study of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, Italy

The necessity for substantial adaptations of the built environment in response to environmental crises and the post-pandemic scenario underscores the critical interaction of urban structure and land-use organization. The study focuses on the concept of the “15-minute city” as a significant model for urban adaptation, aiming to improve access to services of general interest (SGIs), increase ecological resilience, reduce car-dependency, and foster inclusive public spaces. The aim of the study is to evaluate levels of compliance to 15-minute city criteria of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, Italy, by combining configurational, spatial, and statistical analyses. The findings underline disparities in access to SGIs across distinct parts of the metropolitan area, the emergence of a trans-scalar polycentric structure and underscore the impact of urban form factors on service access levels. In particular, the study identifies density, permeability, and centrality as central aspects for urban regeneration policies aimed at creating inclusive, vibrant urban environments. This study contributes to the operationalization of criteria central to developing urban regeneration strategies based on the principles of the 15-minute city and, consequently, to the present discourse on urban organization.