Within the eighth issue of eco magazine for 2024, a monthly publication focused primarily on economic topics, a text by Stefano Boeri titled The City of the Future is an Archipelago is featured.
Historically, cities have been places of emancipation and freedom. Today, however, they are becoming increasingly vertical and dense. This intensifies externalities and conflicts of interest, making public intervention both more necessary and more challenging—a pressing issue for local administrations as well as national governments.
In this context, Stefano Boeri’s contribution focuses on two interconnected challenges—often mistakenly considered separately—that European cities and beyond will face in the near future: climate change and social polarization. Both challenges are closely linked to the role of cities, which should be reimagined through the concept of the “archipelago city” and revitalization of small towns.
This vision does not seek to revive the medieval village model but rather to redefine the idea of an “urban borough.” This means creating areas with a high degree of functional autonomy, where individuals can access local shops, schools, cultural institutions, and healthcare services within a spatial radius of 500 meters and a time radius (as suggested by urban planner Carlos Moreno) of 15–20 minutes—on foot or, at most, by bicycle.
The reference model is the “archipelago city”: a network of urban boroughs that are self-sufficient in essential functions (including energy autonomy), interconnected, and embraced by a “common sea” of green connection networks.
To read the full issue: https://www.rivistaeco.com/prodotto/le-citta-celesti/