´Smart city` is a trendy word that has been promoted by many international companies, universities and cities, as well as the European Union through its 2020 strategy. Concurrently, with this top down ´corporate storytelling` and policy making an increasing buzz is emerging from citizens, who are involved in the application of urban and community informatics (social media and other ICTs) for self-organization in urban settings. Consequently, the smart city as a concept is under social and political construction. We have constructed a multi-scalar and multi-dimensional framework for understanding and shaping smart cities, comprising technological, social, cultural, ecological, economic and political aspects.

The aim of the course is to provide understanding of the multidimensional concept of ´smart city`, what it means in different contexts and how it can be applied and evaluated from a variety of perspectives in the practice of architecture, planning and design.

Students:

• gain awareness of the multiple dimensions and complexities of the notion of smart city;
• awareness of challenges, perspectives and approaches to analyze through a cross-scaling approach the role of smart city in the contemporary literature debate;
• are capable to manage and discuss issues and key concepts of the debate on the smart city
• are capable to comment them in a critical understanding of their trends and technical forms;
• arec capable to communicate all that in effective products and formats (i.e., a paper, a poster, a presentation, etc.).

The content of the course comprises lectures with virtual examples of designing smart cities in different parts of the world, student presentations in pairs or groups, practical tasks of planning, panel discussions and evaluation of the outcomes and the course itself. All co-produced course material will be put on the Polimi web-site.

The pedagogy is based on collaborative and problem oriented approaches, as well as learning by doing, and seeks to achieve both double and triple loop learning. Therefore, the student should actively participate both in lecturing, research, deliberation and planning. Participation in the classroom work is mandatory.

No prerequisites are required

The course will be passed when the student has the following assignments accepted:

1. participation in pairs or groups in the presentation of a smart city example from a specific perspective
2. participation in conducting and reporting a practical design task on the smart city
3. participation in the co-creation of the smart city concept from a holistic and integrative perspective

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