"Jaime Lerner, who has died at age 83, found low-cost ways to move people around Curitiba and revive the city’s core"
"Georges-Eugène Haussmann buried the lanes of Paris under broad boulevards. Robert Moses laced New York with bridges and expressways.
Jaime Lerner, the former mayor of a second-tier Brazilian city, Curitiba, won an international reputation over the past five decades by promoting gentler and less-expensive ways to rearrange urban life."
by James R. Hagerty and Samantha Pearson
June 9th 2021
JAIME LERNER LIVES ON
The body of work, thoughts and ideas left by Jaime Lerner are living marks that will continue to influence us for a very, very long time. Inspiring maestro of a fine orchestra of collaborators, he turned concepts and ideas into reality; concepts and ideas that have traveled the world carrying the optimist understanding that “the city is not a problem, it is a solution.”
Primacy of public spaces, priority to pedestrians and public transit in mobility, solidarity, sustainability, sociodiversity, identity are key elements of his (and our) professional “mantra”. The city as the stage where all peoples meet - a concrete and visible idea that permeates Curitiba, his birthplace, his home, where he had the opportunity to materialized projects and collective dreams.
Jaime’s example as an architect, urban planner, citizen and politician will be sorely missed. As will his generous, convivial, upbeat personality. Nevertheless, Lerner’s legacy and example will always be alive and well here, just around the corner, in many places, and in many hearts and minds.
We remain determined and strong in sharing these achievements, and in pursuing better communities, better cities! For people.
Jaime Lerner (1937 - 2021)
INSTITUTO JAIME LERNER
Jaime Lerner is an architect and urban planner, founder of the Instituto Jaime Lerner and chairman of Jaime Lerner Arquitetos Associados (JLAA). Former president of the UIA – International Union of Architects in the 2002/2005 term, three-time mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, he led the urban revolution that made the city renowned for urban planning, public transportation, environmental social programs and urban projects. He served as governor of Parana State twice and conducted an economic and social transformation both in the urban and rural areas
The Jaime Lerner Institute is a non-profit, non-party organization that seeks to awaken a positive awareness of the potential of cities. Based on the experience of the architect, urban planner and manager Jaime Lerner, our activities seek to protect the legacy of urban planning in the city of Curitiba and, at the same time, encourage all cities to develop in a sustainable and creative way
