Lessons learned from a Brazilian city could be the key to revitalising Newcastle’s central business district.
Natalie Cook, the 2011 winner of the Parker Fellowship for architecture students at the University of Newcastle, will spend six months in the city of Curitiba to study its urban renewal and sustainability projects.
Curitiba has become world renowned for improvement of its urban landscape, earning it the Globe Sustainable City Award in 2010, hosted by the Globe Forum.
The Brazilian city has applied a number of innovative and sustainable public strategies to improve transport, industry and tourism in the city.
Natalie said she was looking forward to what she hoped would be a beneficial opportunity not only for herself but also for the city of Newcastle.
“I’m really interested to see how the city has managed to succeed and I hope to bring that knowledge back with me and see how we can use their ideas in Newcastle.
“I’m hoping I will be able to meet with architect Jaime Lerner who has played a major role in establishing the sustainability and renewal projects there.”
The scholarship is named in honour of Eric Parker, who was the first permanent teacher of architecture at the University of Newcastle. The scholarship aims to inspire students to share his global view of architecture.
The $10,000 scholarship is funded by the Architecture Foundation, a group of University of Newcastle architecture graduates.
Chair Bob Donaldson said the group was looking forward to Natalie bringing back innovative ideas to renew Newcastle.
“Urban renewal has become one of the most talked about topics in the City of Newcastle. We are very interested in what Curitiba has done to renew and revitalise its urban spaces.”
Anyone interested in making a donation to a scholarship at the University can contact the University of Newcastle Foundation on (02) 49217 453 or visit the website at www.newcastle.edu.au/foundation.
About the University of Newcastle Foundation:
The University of Newcastle Foundation is charged with encouraging philanthropic support for the University of Newcastle. Donations help fund student scholarships and prizes, academic positions, research and community projects.
Photo opportunity: Natalie Cook and Bob Donaldson are available at 10am on Thursday 29 September at the University of Newcastle’s Architecture building.
Media contact: Tanya Carlyle, UON Foundation Marketing & Communication Coordinator, (02) 4985 4178 or 0407 276 061
