Written by Jesús Torres
Whenever I hear or read the word Curitiba, my mind immediately goes to the architect, urbanist, and politician, Jaime Lerner.
When I was younger I couldn't understand why he decided to professionally be in two types of working sectors so different from each other. I do not believe that wisdom always and necessarily comes with age, but in this specific story, time brought me clarity to understand who, how, and why Jaime Lerner decided to be the Jaime Lerner we all learn from.
Jaime Lerner was a Brazilian architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the field of sustainable urban development. He is widely known for his work as the mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, where he implemented a number of innovative urban planning policies and projects that have had a significant impact on the city's development.
One of Lerner's most well-known accomplishments as mayor of Curitiba was the implementation of a comprehensive bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The BRT system, which was implemented in the 1970s, was one of the first of its kind in the world and has since been recognized as a model for other cities to follow. The system, which uses dedicated lanes and advanced technology to provide fast and efficient public transportation, has helped to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the city, while also making it easier for residents to access jobs, education, and other opportunities.
In addition to the BRT system, Lerner also implemented a number of other urban planning policies and projects during his time as mayor. These included the creation of a network of parks and public spaces, the development of a recycling program, and the implementation of a "green city" program that promotes sustainable urban development.
Since leaving office, Lerner has continued to work on sustainable urban development projects around the world. He has worked as a consultant for a number of governments and organizations and has also served as a professor of urban planning at universities in Brazil and the United States.
Lerner's work is widely recognized as an example of how innovative urban planning policies can help to create sustainable and livable cities. His approach to urban development, which emphasizes the use of technology and public participation, has been replicated in cities around the world and has helped to shape the field of urban planning.
And although he revolutionized the way Curitiba moves, and therefore, lots of other global-south cities as well, the most important he had done (from my perspective), is changing my approach on how to communicate with others in urban-related issues.
He expressed himself in a way that I have never seen before from my perspective: he, in a 15 minutes Ted Talk put in words the way I live in my city and talked about my deepest and darkest fears, which coincidentally, happens to be related to cities. Since I watched that conference, I became an urbanist disseminator, and I want to become the urban planner that my community needs.
Please, separate 15 minutes of your everyday life to watch the video I'm attaching. Maybe this will hit home with you as well.
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