UNSW - The University of New South WalesFaculty of the Built Environment

SUSD0001 Sustainable Development & Urban Environment2010 Session 1

Professor James WeirickStudent João Damo 3281292

The Citizenship Centerin Curitiba’s Metropolitan Municipalities.

Background

The expansion of the Região Metropolitana de Curitiba RMC (Metropolitan Region of Curit-iba) is occurring at a relatively disjointed manner. Lack of appropriate infrastructure and informal settlements aggravates the uncontrolled urban sprawl causing problems such as flooding, depletion of natural resources, and pollution. The heavy vehicular traffic is further fragmenting the physical urban form, accessibility and connectedness. The pres-sure exerted by the neighbouring municipalities into the city of Curitiba and its services is increasing progressively together with the problems.

The Plano Diretor (Master Plan) (IPPUC 2004), the proposed Plano de Desenvolvimento Integrado PDI (Plan for Integrated Development) (COMEC 2006) and the Plano de Inte-gração do Transporte PIT (Plan of Transport Integration) (COMEC 2005) look into the main planning issues, transport infrastructures and strategies for RMC. The PDI Plan has its principles based in competitiveness, sustainability, solidarity and public participation but it is far behind what is needed. Its strategy of assuming Curitiba as the Núcleo Central NUC (Central Nucleus) with multidirectional growing is questionable. The Diretrizes de gestão para o sistema viário metropolitano (Management guidelines for the metropolitan road system) (COMEC 2000) needs also to be urgently reviewed, upgraded and integrated to the plans. This paper intends to open discussion about these plans and to propose the Centro da Cidadania (Citizenship Center) as a possible solution to ignite sustainable de-velopment in RMC.

The coordination of these plans with the Estatuto da Cidade (Statute of the City)(Lei No 10.257, 2001), an updated Brazilian policy framework is urgently needed. The first Stat-ute’s general direction is to guarantee the right to sustainable cities, right to urban land, housing, environment protection, urban infrastructure, transport, public services, work and leisure for present and future generations.The Rede Integrada de Transportes RIT (Integrated Transport Network) scheme (URBS 2010) which embraces Curitiba and RMC in its transport networks counts with resourc-es from the Governo do Estado (State Government), Banco Nacional (National Bank) and BNDS (Social and Economical Development Bank). As stated by Vidotto (2008) these in-stitutions predict investment of around R$124 million in the RIT infrastructure with road works, landscapes, lighting, footpaths, cycle paths and bus stations. These investments need to be supported by complete and detailed strategic plans based in sustainable devel-opment principles.

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Fig.1 - PIT Plano de Integração do Transporte (COMEC 2005)

Fig.2 - PDI Plano de Desenvolvimento Integrado da RMC (COMEC 2006)

Fig.3 - Plano Diretor (IPPUC 2010)

Fig.4 - Diretrizes de gestão para o sistema viário metropolitano (COMEC 2000)

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In reviewing the International Environment Organizations Principles of Sustainable Devel-opment (UNEP 1992), it is notable how the principles are still in accordance with local and current necessities for RMC: 1. To improve the quality of human life; 2. Conserve the Earth’s vitality and diversity; 3. Minimize the depletion of nonrenewable resources; 4. Change personal attitudes and practices; 5. Enable communities to care for their own en-vironments; 6. Provide a national framework for integrating development and conserva-tion; 7. Create a global alliance.

The Five Lessons for Policy Development by UNEP (1996) are also very much in tune with the current sustainability issues and should be carefully considered in the PDI and PTI plans: 1. The power of good examples; 2. Complexity of issues; 3. Local level action has large scale repercussions; 4. Exchanges take place between peer groups in different cities; 5. Changing the way urban institutions work.

To follow these principles and to improve government policies can be challenging for RMC cities but it can also show a way to guarantee best practices, legal policies and appropri-ated solutions are being followed, improved and implemented. There are several addi-tional international guidelines and frameworks local municipalities can follow and use as reference documents. There is also a certain required amount of investment, competence and flexibility to implement the actions. As suggested by European Communities (2007 p. 268): ‘Good governance can be defined both as a process of better policy-making and a process by which better policy decisions are implemented’.

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Fig.7 - Metropolitan Region of Curitiba map (IPPUC 2010)

Fig.5 - State of Paraná map(IPPUC 2010)

Fig.6 - Brazil map (IPPUC 2010)

The Metropolitan Region of Curitiba

The Região Metropolitana de Curitiba RMC (Metropolitan Region of Curitiba) has it main part situated at the Primeiro Planalto Paranaense (First Plateaus of Paraná) at 932m (3107 ft) of altitude above sea level. It has the Serra do Mar (sea mountain range) to the East, high declivities at North, valleys to the West, and plain reliefs to the South. As stated by IPPUC (2010) the RMC embraces an area of approximated 15.418 Km2 and is made by 25 municipalities including Curitiba with a population in 2007 of approximate 3,166,273 people. There are only approximately 9% inhabiting rural areas (IPPUC 2010). The most influencing cities are those physically bordering the City of Curitiba: Colombo, São José dos Pinhais, Fazenda Rio Grande, Campo Largo, Campo Magro, Araucária, Almirante Tama-ndaré and Pinhais.

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Local Action Centro da Cidadania (Citizenship Center)

The transport infrastructures are historically agents of urban development in Brazilian cities especially in Curitiba. The PIT plans concerning the existing and proposed bus sta-tions are good examples where local actions have potential to define structural lines. The Citizenship Center’s purpose is to engage the bus stations and surroundings as starting point for urban development in RMC.

To strategically define the appropriate and sustainable principles when planning such infrastructures can enable the urban grown and expansion occur in a sustainable manner. To envision and carefully consider future expansions plans such as the Linha Verde (Green Line) and the Metrô Curitibano (Curitiba’s Metro) together with its implications are also important strategic actions to be considered in the RMC plans.

The Citizenship Center’s main objectives are:

• Supplement the PDI and PIT Plans with sustainable principles and urban design;• Ignite urban transformation in RMC through sustainable development;• Implement public facilities such as community centers, libraries, schools, job centers,

council offices, sport halls, playgrounds, bike storage, etc.; • Propose coordination between land use, density and transport;• Create incentives for relocations and transferences within the block;• Reduce car dependence and traffic;• Improve the quality of the urban life;• Consider the ESD principles of precautionary, inter-generational equity, conservation

of biodiversity and sustainable use (Beder 2006);• Envision future extensions for the existing and new transportation infrastructures to

inter modal levels;• Produce evaluation frameworks (Wells 1971, p.35) for the proposed sites;• Set example creating benchmarks for sustainable development;• Present itself as a possible urban design solution to ignite the renewing of the existing

urban fabric in a sustainable way.

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The Citizenship Center’s main principles and actions are:

1. Sustainable design

Propose quality and adequate public realm, sustainable building design for transport infrastructures and public facilities ensuring environment consciousness and good rela-tionship between inside, outside and surroundings. Maximize natural ventilation, natural light, green areas while minimising hard paving areas. Apply sustainable practices and technologies to achieve energy and water efficiency in the urban context. Consider natu-ral water cycles and processes. Introduce water and waste management systems, waste treatment plants and recycling systems.

Embrace innovation in building materials and technologies considering sustainability, embodied energy, building life-cycle, durability and low maintenance. Consider the spaces by the perspective of resilience and adaptive cycles (Graham 2003) proposing flexibility of uses in buildings and open spaces.

2. Accessibility

Prioritise pedestrian and cyclist access to public transport and residential areas while minimizing car dependence, vehicular circulation and car parking. Propose permeability and connectivity trough walking and cycling networks considering distances to main services and to residential areas. Consider openness and high accessi-ble public spaces while creating children and family friendly spaces.

3. Energy Efficiency

Have a holistic, integrated, innovative and sustainable approach to energy use while es-tablishing correlations between density and energy use. Encourage renewable energy sources systems such as photovoltaic, wind turbines, biomass and clean fuel. Propose low carbon emissions technologies, services and products. Use local resources and local energy generation if possible to minimise emissions associated with operational energy consumption. Employ local building labour and consider embody energy of construction and operation phases. Propose shared energy systems and communal energy initiatives.

Design considering urban micro climates, maximising sun exposure and considering all seasons and orientations. Minimise exposure to prevailing winds. Consider climate and temperature variations between inside and outside, night and day for thermal efficiency. Encourage high efficiency in building envelope performance with durable and low-main-tenance materials specification.

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4. Local Economy

Ensure the sustainable urban design is in tune with local economic and social conditions while upgrading the bus stations and surroundings. Promote the creation of local jobs and provide guidelines to facilitate local commerce and local public markets making available products such as fresh food and goods from local farms.Propose affordable housing encouraging partnerships between the communities and the local authorities to promote equality. Create mechanisms to avoid speculative use.Encourage private and public funding to increment the local economy.

5. Sustainable Density

To propose compactness strategies for zoning while establishing the relationship between density and liveability and defining and implementing the levels of density necessary to economically support public transport and good quality of life. Define a density classifica-tion framework according regulations. Encourage diversity in zoning preferring mixed and multi- use for public, commercial and educational zones. Ensure a more complete range of services and local products for the community while encouraging and supporting commerce variety and local agriculture in accordance with the community needs.

‘On a macro level, one of the most important steps in counteracting sprawl is to improve existing built-up areas with compact patterns of development’ (PPS 2002). 5. Urban Ecology

Consider the relationships between the natural elements such as solar radiation, wind, precipitation, temperature, humidity in relation to land form, landscape, water and plants (Hough 1984a, p.29), biological diversity, ecosystems and species together with human factors.Analyze the natural processes when making connections (Hough 1984b, p. 251) and when integrating natural and built environment. Consider the hydrological, phosphorous, nitrogen and carbon cycles (Newman & Jennings 2008, pp. 245-251).

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6. Urban Ambience

Consider local identity, character, legibility and distinctiveness to promote the attractive-ness and liveability of the spaces. Design a proportional and balanced urban form to un-veil the sense of the places and amenity. Propose landmarks, public art and sculptures helping to enhance the ambience and to create a sense of community considering the human perceptions and senses of noise lev-els, freedom from visual and air pollution and cleanness of the spaces.

7. Safety and Security

Create safe, secure and friendly environments for public transport users, pedestrians and cyclists away from vehicular traffic, border protected when necessary and child minded. Establish design strategies to minimise risk in road crossings, paths and aerial walkways.Promote transparency, active frontages and openness helping to ensure a more visible and natural surveyed environment with good luminance at night. Ensure police patrol facilities are implemented.

8. Sociability

To proportionally distribute open spaces, parks and plazas can create opportunities to community gathering and sociability while valuing the natural environment. Encourage building design that enhances local, social and cultural habits. To plan for this spaces with flexibility and resilience to receive seasonal street markets and social events can greatly contribute for the sociability. Consider civic conscious and participative environments while promoting programs to inform and to engage the community.

‘On a micro level, communities are successfully combating sprawl by creating and restor-ing special places that bring people together and energize community life’ (PPS 2002).

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Fig. 10 - Bus Station Maracanã, Colombo Existing (COMEC 2005)

Fig. 9 - Bus Station Maracanã, Colombo - Aerial view

Fig. 11 - Bus Station Sao José dos Pinhais - Aerial view

Fig.13 - Bus Station Fazenda Rio Grande - Aerial view

Fig. 12 - Bus Station Sao José dos Pinhais In construction (COMEC 2005)

Fig. 14 - Bus Station Fazenda Rio GrandeProposed (COMEC 2005)

The bus stations considered for the Citizenship Center in RMC are: Maracanã, Colom-bo, Sao José dos Pinhais, Fazenda Rio Grande, Campo Largo, Araucária and Almirante Tamandaré as follows:

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Fig. 16 - Bus Station Campo Largo In construction (COMEC 2005)

Fig. 15 - Bus Station Campo Largo - Aerial view

Fig. 17 - Bus Station Araucária - Aerial view

Fig. 19 - Bus Station Almirante Tamandaré - Aerial view

Fig. 18 - Bus Station Araucária Existing (COMEC 2005)

Fig. 20 - Bus Station Almirante Tamandaré Existing (COMEC 2005)

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Fig. 21 - Curitiba’s Integrated Transports Network Map (URBS 2010)

The Citizenship Center locations showed in the Integrated Transports Network map:

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Recommendations

Some actions to be urgently considered by local governance are:

To fully develop the Planos Diretores (master plans) for each RMC municipality following sustainable development principles is essential in order to comply with the Estatuto da Cidade (Statute of the City). Integrate the master plans to the PDI and PIT plans are also important priorities.

Create mechanisms and legislations to enable RMC municipalities to sustainably develop proportionally to its own limits, conditions and expectations with social equality reduc-ing social discrepancies and maintaining a long term sustainable development (Newman 2005). To elaborate decision-making strategies to urban design considering Sustainabil-ity, Climate Change (Pearman 2005), Greenhouse Emissions and Depletion of Natural Re-sources in the policies.

Establish a stronger link between government, private businesses, investors, and local communities in order to facilitate funds, agreements, projects and local initiatives. Create funding mechanisms and economical strategies to attract investments to RMC.

Consider urban designers and architects as key elements in the sustainable development, welcoming public and private partnerships, initiatives and projects. Create task forces of specialized professionals establishing dedicated facilities to practice urban design, urban planning and architecture in each one of the municipalities. Work pro actively rather than reactively encouraging leadership and embracing sustainable practices. Encourage and support sustainable and innovative building design methods and technologies.

To plan for alternative and sustainable public transport systems such as high efficient trains, light rail systems and sustainable buses, walking and cycling networks are natural long-term strategies for sustainable urban development in the RMC. There is opportunity to plan pro actively for these future transformations rather than reactively afterwards with the main objective at short term to decrease the automobile dependence. Sustainable inter modal stations need to be envisioned and possibly integrated to public facilities such as libraries, community centres, sport halls, cultural centres, etc.

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To establish ranking systems for the municipalities according to sustainability issues can be a good practice towards a transparent and effective sustainable development for RMC. Taking as an example the Sustain Lane (Karlenzig 2007) a program in the United States where the benefits are notable. It ignites public engagement, urgent concern for change, local action programs, creation of ecological value, interchange of best sustainable prac-tices and collection of data, among others. The issues are researched, documented and analysed in categories: City Commuting, Central area congestion, Central area public ac-cessibility, Air Quality, Tap Water Quality, Solid Waste Management, Balanced planning and land use, City Innovation, Housing Affordability, Climate Change, Local food and agri-culture, Green economy, Knowledge base and certified sustainable buildings.

Conclusion

The potential benefits of focusing on improving legislation, implementation and mainte-nance of urban policies can far outweigh the cost issues and should be perceived more intensely by authorities and communities in RMC. Human factors such as health, wellbe-ing, amenity, security, equality and sociability can make a real difference in people lives. Although considering the complex interdependent aspects of planning, economy and transportation, the relative independence of each one of the RMC municipalities is es-sential in order to find the balance required to create sustainable cities and communities. To perceive this independency trough local urban design is to enable local governments and local communities to build a sense of place, a sense of ownership and to develop with sustainability.

In front of the sustainability issues faced by the humanity in the actuality such as Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions the strategic plans have vital importance to en-sure a more sustainable future. There is the potentiality to use these plans and actions as benchmark regionally and nationally following Curitiba’s international recognition in urban design. It is more than reasonable to extend to RMC the good practices and the ini-tiative’s spirit.

The sustainable urban development initiatives such as the Citizenship Center can ignite the urgent needed for urban citizenship and sustainability and have the potential to trans-form communities though urban design. If well detailed and well implemented they can ensure RMC cities are heading beyond the mobility issue of modern urban society towards a higher level of civilization.

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Bibliography

Beder, S 2006, Environment Principles and Policies: An interdisciplinary approach, UNSW Press, Sydney;

COMEC 2000, Coordenação da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, Governo do Estado do Paraná, Diretrizes de gestão para o sistema viario metropolitano RMC 2000. (COMEC Coordination of Curitiba’s Metropolitan Region, State of Paraná Government , The lines of direction for the Metropolitan Road System RMC 2000), viewed 14May 2010,< http://www.comec.pr.gov.br/arquivos/File/DiretrizesSistemaViarioMetropolitano.pdf;

COMEC 2006, Coordenação da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, Governo do Estado do Paraná, PDI Plano de Desenvolvi-mento Integrado da RMC 2006. (COMEC Coordination of Curitiba’s Metropolitan Region, State of Paraná Govern-ment, Plan for Integrated Development RMC 2006) p.202 and 214, viewed 1May 2010, <http://www.comec.pr.gov.br/modules/conteudo/conteudo.php?conteudo=62>;

COMEC 2005, Coordenação da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, Governo do Estado do Paraná, PIT Plano de Integração do Transporte da RMC 2005. (COMEC Coordination of Curitiba’s Metropolitan Region, State of Paraná Government, Plan of Transport Integration RMC 2005), viewed 1May 2010,<http://www.comec.pr.gov.br/modules/conteudo/conteudo.php?conteudo=64>;

European Communities 2007, Measuring progress towards a more sustainable Europe 2007 monitoring report of the EU sustainable development strategy p.269 and 280, viewed 1 May 2010,<http://ec.europa.eu/sustainable/docs/es-tat_2007_sds_en.pdf>; 

Graham, P. 2003, Building Ecology: First Principles for a Sustainable Environment, Blackwell Science, Oxford;

Hough M. 1984a, City Form and Natural Process: towards a new urban vernacular, Routledge, London, pp.28-49;

Hough M. 1984b, City Form and Natural Process: towards a new urban vernacular, Routledge, London, pp.246-251;

IPPUC 2010, Instituto de Pesquisas and Planejamento Urbano de Curitiba (Institute of Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba), viewed 21 May 2010, http:// www.ippuc.org.br/;

Karlenzig W. 2007, How green is your city? New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, B.C.;

Lei No 10.257, Estatuto da Cidade de 10 de Julho de 2001, Presidência da República do Brasil, Subchefia para Assuntos Jurídicos. (Act No 10.257), Statute of the City of 10 July 2001, Presidency of Republic of Brazil, juridical affairs department) viewed 1 May 2010,<http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil/leis/LEIS_2001/L10257.htm>;

Newman, P. 2005, ‘Urban Design and Transport,’ in Goldie, J., Douglas, B. & Furnass, B. (eds) 2005, In Search of Sustain-ability, CSRIO Publishing, Melbourne, pp. 123-136;

Newman, P. & Jennings, I. 2008, Cities and Sustainable Ecosystems: principles and practices, Island Press, Washington, D.C., pp.244-251;

Pearman, G. 2005, ‘Climate Change,’ in Goldie, J,Douglas, B & Furnass, B. (eds) 2005, In Search of Sustainability, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, pp. 93-108;

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Appendix Literature ReviewHerbert Girardet 1999, Creating Sustainable Cities, Schumacher Briefings 2, Green Books, Dartington.

IntroductionOne can find complex interconnectivities and variables when analysing the cities problems. Herbert Girardet in Creating Sustainable Cities just does that but he also finds solutions in sustainable urban practices for some of the presented problems. In a holistic way he explores some of the most critical city problems. He Presents issues of our everyday urban life and gives practical examples in how to solve these issues with initia-tives and programs at different scales and locations. SummaryFirstly the author looks at one the most important city components, the people. Searching for reasons why we lost the balance and harmony in our cities he looks into the historical, cultural, social and the environmental context implying that dependence in mobility has changed the aspirations of people: ‘Today we don’t live in a civilization but in a mobiliza-tion’ (p.11) and this is defining our human existence. He questions this condition in different manners outlining alternatives for change. He finds in sustainable urban practices answers for the same questions and solutions capable to improve the connection between people and the planet.

Exploring ways to measure the impact of existing cities as per example when exemplifying the Ree’s and Wackernagel’s methodology to calculate London’s Ecological Footprint and when using the Brazilian city of Pagominas to exemplify how far our enterprises are going to explore the natural resources in an uncontrolled manner he situate the text in a global context. How we can suffer serious consequences with our unplanned urbanization, conur-bation, economic development, financial power, globalisation, technological development, energy availability, transport systems and other factors are analysed together with our con-tribution for the urban growth. To look for indicators in order to measure the impacts seems to him a natural step in search for appropriate sustainable solutions.

Looking the cities as natural systems ‘a chain of mutual benefit’ (p.29) the author finds in natural and ecological systems references and indications to study the urban ‘metabolism’ highlighting the impact of our unsustainable practices can be irreversible and the urgent need of reconciliation between city, people and nature. He emphasizes that we need to take advantage of technology, communication, culture, economy, wisdom and knowledge to plan and implement solutions to our multi-layered cities and in order to improve our environ-ment even if we have to reconfigure our cultural values and to create new lifestyles.

Considering cities as dependents on external supplies, transport and communications sys-tems the author implies that the highly demand for energy fed with fossil fuels and with unsustainable sources are contributing to unbalance our economic enterprises as implied: ‘In essence, the rainforest may be geographically located in the Far East, but financially it might as well be located in London Square Mile’ (p.29). With globalisation the limits and geographic borders were eliminated and uncontrolled trade of natural resources spread internationally as common and legalized practice or in other words these trades are literally selling the planet.

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CritiqueAlthough more detailed examples could help to illustrate the presented initiatives and pro-grams the book has the ability to points out to key issues and important benchmarks. There-fore it could be extended to an information database or guide to sustainable urban practices with tools such as ecological footprint calculation, recycling systems, urban density calcula-tions, urban farming initiatives, eco-feedback plans, etc.

When looking the governmental principles and policies, the author reviews the City Summit Habitat II’s UNEP (1996) five lessons for policy development and the best practices initia-tives from international council for local environment ICLEI (1992) emphasizing that for modern cities to be able to follow these principles and implement effective actions they will be required to work with a good level of flexibility and adaptation. This is a very important factor as government institutions tend to resist change and innovation. Some causes for this resistance can be among others bureaucracy, lack of communication between departments, lack of self regulating systems, privatisation dependence, lack of facilities and dedicated working spaces and political constrains.

To overcome these barriers is prerequisite to achieve a more sustainable government and consequently more sustainable policies. This is clear when the author mentions that govern-ment regulation and legislation are clearly important to achieve sustainable outcomes. He implies: ‘To many varied aspects of sustainable urban development need to be integrated into a set of interlocking policies that can be applied under widely varying circumstances’ (p.66).

ConclusionCreating Sustainable Cities places fairly and optimistically Sustainable Development at the top of people’s agenda and explain why the ‘sustainable city’ is the objective to be perceived. It has the ability to condense important and relevant information in an efficient way describ-ing why important tools such as the ecological footprint became essential.

The author’s experiences in London helped him to situate the text to global context and to be proportional to some of the currents problematic issues which are also global. With simplic-ity and objectivity his writing makes broad and complex issues accessible and readable.

References

Girardet, H. 1999, Creating Sustainable Cities, Schumacher Briefings 2, Green Books, Dartington;UNEP 1996, United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, viewed 1May 2010, <http://www.un.org/Conferences/habitat>;ICLEI 1992, International council for local environment, viewed 2 May 2010, < http://www.iclei.org/>.

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