Statue of Jaime Lerner Unveiled in Curitiba: A Tribute to the Man Who Shaped the Future

If you’ve been through Curitiba’s city centre in the last few days, you might have noticed a different kind of energy, a buzz that only genuine emotion can create. If you stopped there on the pavement, having once crammed into a bi-articulated bus or sat on a recycled cardboard bench, you’ll know what I mean. The city has finally, once and for all, made its peace with one of its most illustrious sons. The Jaime Lerner statue has been unveiled, and it couldn’t be in a better spot: right by Rua XV, the beating heart of the capital, exactly where Curitiba’s soul is felt most strongly.

For those of us from here, or who have lived through the city’s transformation over recent decades, the image of Lerner with his visionary style and that black hat was already etched in our memory. But now it’s there, in bronze, looking out over the hustle and bustle. Mayor Eduardo Pimentel led the ceremony, turning a regular Monday into a date for the diary. Emotion filled the air as the tarpaulin dropped, revealing the ‘relational’ work – a concept Lerner himself championed: art in dialogue with the city, not just decoration. It’s as if he’s there, forever on that corner, waiting for us to stop and have a chat about the future.

And it’s impossible to talk about Lerner without mentioning the symbol he used as the foundation for everything. I’m not just talking about urbanism, but the visceral connection to the Esporte Clube XV de Novembro. XV, which embodies Curitiba’s fighting spirit, carries that Roman numeral in its soul. Jaime was a fan, a regular, and he brought that confidence of someone who knows victory is about strategy and reading the game. The statue stands near Paço da Liberdade, but the spirit of the man spreads along XV de Novembro, down the green line, through the RIT. It’s poetic justice that the monument engages with the place where the city learned to walk, to grow, and to respect itself.

If you haven’t been to see it yet, it’s well worth the trip. And here’s some advice from someone who has lived through every stage of this story:

• Look into his eyes: Stop for a minute in front of the statue. The bronze Jaime Lerner has the look of someone who is still working on a plan.
• Tell the story: If you’re with children, explain that this was the man who invented those bus that are like a train, and the parks that fill the city with clean water.
• Rethink the city: This unveiling isn’t just about the past. It’s a reminder that Curitiba must never stop innovating, whether in transport, culture, or how we welcome people.

Whether you’re from the generation that saw Jaime govern or only heard about him in university architecture lectures, the unveiling of this statue is one of those rare moments where we move beyond party politics and come together to celebrate the legacy of a local who showed the world that a small city can have big solutions. XV there, in the street name, and the figure of its creator there, on the pavement, is the perfect match. It’s a symbol that we can, indeed, be a benchmark. Now, all you have to do is head over, have a natter with Jaime (in your mind, of course) and give thanks that we lived through this golden era. The city is grateful, and finally, art is in the right place.