My point of view:
on Architecture and Politics

Interview Date: 29-12-2010

Every city in the world wants to become a viable city, on a human scale if possible. How would you characterize your city?

I believe the most important deal about Curitiba is the high self-esteem that population has about its city.

The population of Curitiba has developed this self-esteem for many years, and this is a key factor that made the city always search the improvement, the innovation. The population drives the city toward that. We have been fortunate to have city governments that have given a great answer to this call from the people.

So Curitiba, for more than 30 years, has been ahead of its time, with great programs and services in many areas, such as transportation, environment, culture, education, health and sustainability.

What do you think is the added value that architecture creates within a city?

The architecture is very related to the city identity. When the architecture fits well within the city, it contributes a lot to this identity. We have had this experience in Curitiba, where architecture has walked along with the development of the city, adding a great value to the landscape.

What is the importance of Architectural Tourism in your opinion? Does your city receive this kind of tourists? What modern architecture landmarks could place your city among the top destinations worldwide?

It is very important, mainly in cities like Curitiba, where we weren´t so fortunate to have very impressive natural landscapes. A creative architecture has helped Curitiba to have a beautiful landscape, that has attracted many tourists.

We have places like the Botanical Garden, the Wire Opera Theather, that are unique and enchant the tourist. And our transportation system, with inovative bus station and the dedicated bus lanes, became a design landmark, plus the the perfection of the system itself, considered the best bus system in Brazil and model to the world.

What is the importance of architectural, cultural and social events worldwide? What are the profits for a city holding such kind of major events?

Of course the main profit is the quality of life for population, and when you have a great agenda of architectural culture and social events, you are providing opportunities to the population to improve their development.

And there all the financial profits, because major events bring tourist, bring jobs, show the city to the world, help the city to attract investments. Curitiba will be a host city for 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and we expect that the event will bring, at least, US$ 1,2 billion in investment to the city. 

Public spaces, green spaces, public transport. Is the urban environment of your city satisfactory for the people who live in it?

I´ll let the others to answer that: last January, we received the Sustainable Transportation Award, in Washington; in April, we won the Globe Award Sustainable City, in Sweden; in November, we were in first place on the Green City Index Latin America, made by The Economist and Siemens, and announced in Mexico City.

Those awards are important, and are confirmed by all surveys done recently in Curitiba, where the city administration has had always a high level of approval.

Is the world financial crisis an opportunity for everyone to reconsider the ways that we design and construct the buildings and the urban environment?

I am an optmist. I believe long before the crisis this reconsideration was done and many places have already changed their management on these matters, and Curitiba is among these places. Well, let's hope the crisis to be a warning for those that are still behind.

In recent years attention turns to green urban regeneration. Do you think that it is imperative for the city or it’s just a new fashion with economic outcomes and covertly interests?

We have to be realistic. Of course green urban regeneration is important. But that does not mean the world will turn all Green at once. 

The United Nations recommend a minimum of 18 square meters of green area per inhabitant. Curitiba has 51,5 per inhabitant, so our job is easier, because it has been done for over 30 years. We now are working on the biodiversity preservation.

Every city has to try to do its best, work very hard to do what is really possible. And I believe these changes should really start on the municipal level.

At the end, can you please provide your personal proposal for 10 buildings (constructed and visitable) which you think as the most important worldwide that someone must visit anyway?

Freedom Palace Art Center - Curitiba

Oscar Niemeyer Museum - Curitiba

Eiffel Tower - Paris

Coliseum - Rome

Palazzo Vecchio - Florence

Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao

Marina Bay Sands - Singapore

Disney Cinderella's Castle - Orlando

Dubai Tower - Dubai

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