Acronym: PROWD
Title: PROximity Without Density
Driving Urban Transition Call 2023 – 15 minute Cities Pathway
Topic: Mobility and Planning Policies for Proximity-oriented Developments
What is PROWD About?
PROWD is a project designed to adapt the 15-minute City model to the context of Low-Density Urban Areas in metropolitan regions. It aims to reduce car dependency and improve access to daily services without relying on costly infrastructure or urban densification. Instead of traditional urban interventions, PROWD explores community-led, non-conventional solutions already present in these areas, such as initiatives in education, healthcare, trade, and mobility. These solutions can reduce forced mobility for daily needs and are better suited to the low-density environment.
Project Aim
The primary aim of PROWD is to reconceptualize the 15-minute city model for suburban contexts by fostering strategic knowledge and local solutions that:
- Support “daily ecosystems” where residents can meet their everyday needs close to home.
- Encourage proximity-based services that reduce the need for car use.
- Strengthen social and institutional proximity through collaboration between local communities and municipal authorities.
Project Approach
PROWD’s approach centers on testing and implementing non-conventional, community-driven solutions. The project will:
- Organize co-design workshops in four European metropolitan areas (Rome, Lisbon, Bucharest, and Vilnius) to engage residents and stakeholders in collective interpretation and support for ongoing local initiatives.
- Build collaborative pacts between local governments and stakeholders to enhance local governance and social innovation.
- Focus on reducing car dependency by improving local accessibility through social proximity, shared services, and digital tools.
Key Objectives
- Identify non-conventional initiatives that combine multiple services (e.g., school + recreation, well-being + healthcare).
- Create “daily ecosystems” tailored to the needs of children, the elderly, women, and newcomers.
- Reduce car use by fostering local service networks, shared mobility, and digital applications.
- Strengthen the role of institutional proximity by improving multifunctionality and connectivity in LDUA
Workplan
Partnership
Università degli Studi di Roma Tre (Rome, Italy)
Metropolitan Research Institute (Budapest, Hungary) – Transversal partner
Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal)
URBAN2020 Association (Bucharest, Romania)
Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (Rome, Italy) – PILOT
Intercommunity Development Association Bucharest Metropolitan Area (Bucharest, Romania) – PILOT
Faculty of Geography – University of Bucharest (Bucharest, Romania)
Vilnius City Administration (Vilnius, Lithuania) – PILOT
Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (Vilnius, Lithuania)
Commission for Regional Development and Coordination of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (Lisbon, Portugal) – PILO