Lerner is known for his pioneering work in his birthplace of Curitiba, Brazil, where he established the Institute of Urban Planning and Research of Curitiba in 1965, and participated in the preparation of a master plan that resulted in the physical, economic and cultural transformation of the city. As mayor of Curitiba in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, he implemented an Integrated Mass Transport System that was acknowledged worldwide for its efficiency, quality and low cost, and led an urban planning program that resulted in social advances that ranked Curitiba among the capitals with the highest quality of life in the world. Elected Governor of the State of Paraná in 1994, Lerner oversaw the greatest economic and social transformation in the history of the State. Supported by a productive investment attraction policy, Paraná became one of Brazil’s industrial centers. Emulating his success in Curitiba, Lerner tackled transportation, land use, education, health, sanitation, recreation and industrialization as a whole. Lerner is currently the President of the International Union of Architecture, Chair of the Celebration of Cities competition, and a consultant to the United Nations for urban issues.
Visit his website here.
Scapes 4, Fall 2005 (Full Edition PDF)
Fellowship Awards
Parsons Student: Michael Hargens, Green Roof Technologies
Independent investigation of green roof technologies through lectures and case studies. Michael attended the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities third annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference in Washington, D.C. Michael also visited three case study buildings in the Netherlands with intention to gain technical knowledge and experience actual application of greenroof technologies.
Parsons Faculty : Matthew Baird, Workshop Series: Selecting Sustainable Materials
The first of a series of workshops open to Parsons students and faculty that explores and reevaluates a set of propositions for the assumptions behind the use of materials in order to develop a new methodology to enable the understanding of how to use performance criteria and specifications to select sustainable materials and processes.
Outside Student: Sian Kleindienst, Andiolic Daylighting Systems
Conducted research on anidolic daylighting systems in Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. Used research to develop and integrate similar systems into existing architecture.
Outside Practitioner: FABRICAthree, Williamsburg Waterfront Remediation
Developed an ‘eco-effective’ design for the Williamsburg Waterfront State Park that approached the state of natural systems in which there is no waste and seeks to help re-establish the community’s historic ties to the riverfront. The design will also provide a healthy ecosystem for the return of native plant and animal species.
Outside Practitioner: Paul Makovsky, Architects and Sustainable Housing
Designed knowledge maps, timelines, and bibliographies for specific examples of sustainable housing in the United States and Canada and the architects who designed them. Research was used as a tool for magazine articles and exhibitions.