How a Brazilian City Has Revolutionized Urban Planning

Summary

The city of Curitiba in southern Brazil has become a global leader in urban planning and quality of life, largely due to the vision of Jaime Lerner. As mayor in the 1970s, Lerner prioritized people over cars, creating Brazil’s first pedestrian mall and revolutionizing public transport with a self-sustaining bus system. He also transformed the city’s green spaces and developed innovative solutions for slums. Lerner's approach to urban development emphasized simplicity, sustainability, and community involvement, making Curitiba a model for cities worldwide seeking to improve urban living.

Takeaways

• 😀 Curitiba, Brazil, has been a global leader in urban planning for over three decades, with a focus on sustainability and quality of life.
• 😀 99% of Curitiba's population reports satisfaction with their city, showcasing the success of its urban development strategies.
• 😀 Jamie Lerner, the mayor and later governor, played a pivotal role in transforming Curitiba, prioritizing people over cars.
• 😀 Lerner's first major decision as mayor was to close streets to traffic and create Brazil's first pedestrian mall, Rua das Flores.
• 😀 Curitiba's public transportation system, including triple-articulated buses, is one of the most efficient and cost-effective in the world.
• 😀 The city's bus rapid transit (BRT) system now transports over 2 million passengers daily without relying on subsidies.
• 😀 Lerner's approach emphasized simplicity in urban planning, rejecting unnecessary complexity and focusing on practical solutions.
• 😀 An extensive network of parks, designed by Hitoshi Nakamura, was developed to provide green space and environmental solutions, including flood control.
• 😀 The creation of parks increased land value, provided recreational spaces, and contributed to the city's sustainability goals.
• 😀 Lerner introduced an innovative 'co-responsibility' program to address poverty by encouraging slum residents to clean their neighborhoods in exchange for food.
• 😀 After retiring from politics, Lerner continues to advise cities worldwide on sustainable urban planning and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing people and long-term solutions.

Q & A

What is the city of Curitiba known for?

Curitiba, a city in the south of Brazil, is known for being a world leader in urban planning and sustainability, with a focus on prioritizing people over cars and improving the quality of life for its residents.

What is the population of Curitiba, and how satisfied are its residents?

Curitiba has a population of around 3 million people, and in a recent survey, 99% of its residents reported being happy with their city.

Who was Jamie Lerner, and what role did he play in Curitiba's transformation?

Jamie Lerner was an architect, town planner, and former mayor of Curitiba. He played a key role in transforming the city by introducing innovative urban planning solutions, including a focus on public transport, pedestrian spaces, and sustainability.

What was Jamie Lerner's vision for Curitiba in the 1970s?

In the 1970s, Lerner's vision for Curitiba was to create a city that prioritized people over cars, with an emphasis on public transport, pedestrian areas, and a focus on sustainability.

What was the initial response to Lerner's decision to close the main street to traffic?

Lerner's decision to close the main street to traffic and create a pedestrian mall, Rua Flores, was initially unpopular, but it later became a key feature of Curitiba's urban planning.

What role does public transport play in Curitiba's urban success?

Public transport is central to Curitiba's urban success. The city implemented an innovative bus system that carries more passengers than a subway system at a fraction of the cost. The system is not subsidized and is self-sustaining.

How does Curitiba's bus system work and why is it so effective?

Curitiba's bus system uses triple-articulated buses that transport large numbers of passengers efficiently. Dedicated bus lanes and the introduction of glass boarding tubes have significantly reduced boarding times and increased efficiency.

What impact did the creation of parks have on Curitiba?

The creation of parks in Curitiba, led by Hitoshi Nakamura, transformed the city into a leisure paradise, increased land value, and helped manage environmental issues such as flooding. These parks provide green space, recreational areas, and ecological benefits.

What was the innovative solution for managing the city's green spaces?

An innovative solution for managing Curitiba's green spaces involved using sheep to graze and maintain the grass in parks, which helped reduce the need for lawn mowers and contributed to sustainable park management.

How did Jamie Lerner address the issue of slums and poverty in Curitiba?

Lerner addressed the issue of slums by introducing the concept of co-responsibility, where slum residents were encouraged to clean their neighborhoods in exchange for food and the opportunity to sell recyclables. This initiative aimed to improve the living conditions of the poor.