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Curitiba is considered one of the best examples of urban planning on the planet. When did you begin participating in the design of its Master Plan?
In the mid-60s, I was part of a group of architects working for the City of Curitiba, advising the mayor at the time (Ivo Arzua Pereira) in every development phase of the Curitiba Preliminary Urban Plan. We later became the Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento Urbano de Curitiba (IPPUC), Curitiba Research and Urban Planning Institute. Through IPPUC, I participated in the preparation of the Master Plan to guide the City’s physical, economic and cultural transformation, and was elected mayor of the city in 1971. I remained mayor for three terms (1971-75, 1979-83 and 1989-92).
How can a city be an instrument for change?
A city has to have the political will to change. A city needs a strategy, which works with potentiality, not just needs. And a city needs solidarity, not as rhetoric but as a sincere understanding of the daily life of its citizens. With every problem there needs to be an equation of co-responsibility. When everyone understands what the consequences of certain attitudes are they will more readily cooperate and help bring about change. A city needs to have a daily plan and daily processes that encourage constant learning.
This is why you have designed initiatives where the citizens are involved in such things as tree planting, recycling, and keeping the gardens clean?
Yes, involvement in all aspects of city life. When we started separating garbage in Curitiba, we looked first to the children. For six months, we taught every child the importance of separating organic from inorganic garbage. The children then taught their parents. Since 1989, we’ve had 70% voluntary participation in this initiative. When we had a fuel crisis about 20 years ago, even though we had a very good system of transport in place, everyone knew that they should rethink public transport. Curitiba has more private cars than any Brazilian city except Brasilia (500,000) yet 75% of commuters take the bus and Curitibanos spend only 10% of their income on transport. Why? Because they have a good alternative. (more…)
