CURITIBA

In one of the most unlikely places, huge creativity has arisen since the 1970's. Visit Curitiba to understand the urban evolution of what many call the greenest city on earth.

 

“The city is not the problem, it is the solution” are the words of architect and ex mayor of Curitiba Jaime Lerner, who has led the cities development along urban ecological principles for over half a century. We explore the evolution of this fascinating city, how it has stood the test of time, what challenges it faces today and what innovative solutions it is attempting now. The tour is divided into two parts; a short walking tour through part of the old town and a visit to four very different city parks, each with their own unique set of environmental criteria, individual mystique and charm.

 

Curitiba never stops innovating and citizen engagement is critical to on-going positive change. In the city tour we examine examples of radical creativity: A street that’s an outdoor art gallery: Brazils very first university building UFPR: the place where people flew in air balloons for the first time: Brazils Smart Cities node IBQP: The bikeshop/art space that is winning loads of awards: The cyclists pocket square, a colourful new square, designed and built in a series of public “mutirão”.

 

Connection with nature is a key ingredient to eco cities and with 52m2 of green space per capita; Curitiba is justly called the 'greenest' city in the world, but is it the most ecological? Our 4 green stops examine ecological performance:

 

At Passeio Público, the cities oldest public park, we will discuss Brazil's somewhat difficult relationship with public space, watch monkeys in the free open air zoo and see how the city celebrates its poets. Here on Saturdays one of the cities 16 local organic food fairs sets up. All the senses will be delighted at the cities symbolic and compact Botanical Gardens, apart from all the plants; there is also a sport zone with a velodrome. Crossing the city using “the world’s best bus system”, the red BRT buses with their specially designed tubes, we arrive at one of the cities designated river flood plains which doubles up as the most used city park; Bariqui Park. Here we will come face to face with local wildlife including the famous and much loved capyvara, we can also take a nice rest, eat and have a beer at a little bar over the lake. Leaving best till last, our ultimate destination is UNILIVRE... Set in the wild and lush Zaninelli woods, an abandoned quarry has been turned into a lush oasis to house Brazils first open environmental university. A lesson in urban recycling, the old quarry hole is now a beautiful lake, which abounds with wildlife; ducks, turtles, swans, fish, butterflies, dragonflies. The amazing school is housed within a wooden viewing platform 22 metres above the lake below and was opened in 1992 by Jacque Cousteau on World Environment Day.