Valeria Bechara

Valeria Figueiredo Bechara Elias is an architect and urbanist graduated from the Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro. In 2002 she completed her MBA in Project Management by the Getulio Vargas Foundation, in Curitiba.
She has extensive experience in sustainable urban development, strategic planning, urban design and cultural and heritage architectural projects. She was part of the Rio 2000 project, and, in 1988, she started working at Jaime Lerner Urban Planning – where she collaborated in the development of urban plans and strategies for both the public and private sector.

From 1991 to 2002, she was a technical consultant for public power. First, for the municipal government of Curitiba, where she worked in the elaboration of architecture, and, then, for the government of the State of Paraná, designing and coordinating programs and plans at the regional and local scales.

Valéria is part of the technical staff of the founders of Jaime Lerner Associated Architects. She leads teams and projects in the fields of strategic and sustainable development, renewal of historical areas and urban recovery. Her main activities involve projects of historical and natural patrimony, social housing and qualification of public areas.