EP02: The End of Me-Time, Rest & Idleness in The 15 Minutes City

When death knocked at the door of humanity in 2020, it marked the centennial anniversary since the last global pandemic. Yet, COVID-19 did not spell humanity's demise. Instead, it transformed how we view the purpose of waking life beyond the commandments of globalized Protestant work ethics. The 21st century lifestyle as we knew it evolved beyond merely winning the financialized rat race of neoliberal capitalism—it expanded into the ideals of living a worthwhile life. We no longer want to simply work to live or live to work; we desire both aspects to be more fluid and under our control.This shift incidentally propelled the 5-minute, 15-minute, and 20-minute city to become popular planning concepts. We embraced these models because we believed they offered pathways to a worthwhile life—one where we could regain control over our lifestyle.But can we address the paradox of chrono-urbanism in late-capitalist society and the Anthropocene?Read Full Article: Get full access to The Observatory and Rover at theobservatoryandrover.substack.com/subscribe