EBOOK
About
During his three terms as mayor of Curitiba, Brazil in the 1970s and '80s, architect and urbanist Jaime Lerner transformed his city into a global model of the sustainable and livable community. From the pioneering Bus Rapid Transit system to parks designed to catch runoff and reduce flooding and the creation of pedestrian-only zones, Lerner has been the driving force behind a host of innovative urban projects. In more than forty years of work in cities around the globe, Lerner has found that changes to a community don't need to be large-scale and expensive to have a transformative impact-in fact, one block, park, or a single person can have an outsized effect on life in the surrounding city.
In Urban Acupuncture, Lerner celebrates these "pinpricks" of urbanism-projects, people, and initiatives from around the world that ripple through their communities to uplift city life. With meditative and descriptive prose, Lerner brings readers around the world to streets and neighborhoods where urban acupuncture has been practiced best, from the bustling La Boqueria market in Barcelona to the revitalization of the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul, South Korea. Through this journey, Lerner invites us to re-examine the true building blocks of vibrant communities-the tree-lined avenues, night vendors, and songs and traditions that connect us to our cities and to one another.
Urban Acupuncture is the first of Jaime Lerner's visionary work to be published in English. It is a love letter to the elements that make a street hum with life or a neighborhood feel like home, penned by one of the world's most successful advocates for sustainable and livable urbanism.
"Pragmatic, idealistic, poetic, and humane, Lerner's book is both a primer and a manifesto on the necessity and indispensability of the metropolis. The author poignantly encourages the reader to save, heal, and love cities." "
"This set of musings, a translation of the original Brazilian Portuguese book, pulls you in with its natural, intimate tone; it's like you are sitting and having a conversation with Lerner over a glass of wine in a cafe."
" "Urban Acupuncture captures Lerner's philosophy, expansive mind, and his dynamic personality through a series of anecdotes, musings, even a poem. Most are short - think of them as haikus for the urban planner - and thought-provoking. An unusual book from an unusual thinker, but with lessons that have broad application." ""Urban Acupuncture is a book that enlightens and inspires through eloquent prose explaining common sense solutions. To this end, Lerner concludes the book with a guide to how each of us express our love for the city and some small steps or 'pinpricks' we can take to apply urban acupuncture ourselves."" "Joyful, uplifting book… As the author proves through his wonderful anecdotes, the heart of a city is made of individuals who know and love it, who care for it and work and live in it. With obvious fondness and even delight for the topic, this lovely little guide expresses the joy felt in cities, great and small, that stay human because of these small points of care." "...a smart, quick read that urges urban residents to take a closer look at their everyday surroundings and find small but significant ways to improve the urban landscape..." "[Readers] will come away from this read with their heads overflowing with ideas, inspired to do something themselves in the belief that a better world really is possible." "Jaime Lerner's Urban Acupuncture delves deeply into urban life and what makes cities tick. Drawing on his success as both a designer and politician, Lerner sets out a series of insightful concepts and practical recommendations for enriching urban life....Do not open this book expecting maps, formulas, and detailed instructions. Instead, look at it as a conversation with a wise, influential, award-winning thinker who reveals his hard-won secrets for improving city life...At
In Urban Acupuncture, Lerner celebrates these "pinpricks" of urbanism-projects, people, and initiatives from around the world that ripple through their communities to uplift city life. With meditative and descriptive prose, Lerner brings readers around the world to streets and neighborhoods where urban acupuncture has been practiced best, from the bustling La Boqueria market in Barcelona to the revitalization of the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul, South Korea. Through this journey, Lerner invites us to re-examine the true building blocks of vibrant communities-the tree-lined avenues, night vendors, and songs and traditions that connect us to our cities and to one another.
Urban Acupuncture is the first of Jaime Lerner's visionary work to be published in English. It is a love letter to the elements that make a street hum with life or a neighborhood feel like home, penned by one of the world's most successful advocates for sustainable and livable urbanism.
"Pragmatic, idealistic, poetic, and humane, Lerner's book is both a primer and a manifesto on the necessity and indispensability of the metropolis. The author poignantly encourages the reader to save, heal, and love cities." "
"This set of musings, a translation of the original Brazilian Portuguese book, pulls you in with its natural, intimate tone; it's like you are sitting and having a conversation with Lerner over a glass of wine in a cafe."
" "Urban Acupuncture captures Lerner's philosophy, expansive mind, and his dynamic personality through a series of anecdotes, musings, even a poem. Most are short - think of them as haikus for the urban planner - and thought-provoking. An unusual book from an unusual thinker, but with lessons that have broad application." ""Urban Acupuncture is a book that enlightens and inspires through eloquent prose explaining common sense solutions. To this end, Lerner concludes the book with a guide to how each of us express our love for the city and some small steps or 'pinpricks' we can take to apply urban acupuncture ourselves."" "Joyful, uplifting book… As the author proves through his wonderful anecdotes, the heart of a city is made of individuals who know and love it, who care for it and work and live in it. With obvious fondness and even delight for the topic, this lovely little guide expresses the joy felt in cities, great and small, that stay human because of these small points of care." "...a smart, quick read that urges urban residents to take a closer look at their everyday surroundings and find small but significant ways to improve the urban landscape..." "[Readers] will come away from this read with their heads overflowing with ideas, inspired to do something themselves in the belief that a better world really is possible." "Jaime Lerner's Urban Acupuncture delves deeply into urban life and what makes cities tick. Drawing on his success as both a designer and politician, Lerner sets out a series of insightful concepts and practical recommendations for enriching urban life....Do not open this book expecting maps, formulas, and detailed instructions. Instead, look at it as a conversation with a wise, influential, award-winning thinker who reveals his hard-won secrets for improving city life...At