Jaime Lerner Brazil

Jaime Lerner is an inspiring planner. He was mayor of Curitiba three times (1971-75, 1979-83 and 1989-92) and turned that city into a paradigm of city planning. He created an infrastructure in Curitiba that kept the city from bursting out of its seams despite its rapid growth. His bus tickets, in exchange for rubbish, have become internationally renowned.

The award of EUR 100,000 is extended this year to a trio of 'Urban Heroes'. All three of them work in Latin America. Urban Heroes is an honorary title for those individuals who have exerted themselves in a surprising and successful manner in improving the humane character of cities in the Third World. Jaime Lerner is an inspiring planner. He was mayor of Curitiba three times (1971-75, 1979-83 and 1989-92) and turned that city into a paradigm of city planning. Viva Rio, though not cultural in a strict sense, displays a moral dimension and expresses the importance of values, and thus the important role culture can play in a destructive environment. Francisco Toledo has frequently been at odds with the government. Toledo is an ‘urban hero’ for keeping his native town beautiful in a globalising world.