What is it about?
This article focuses on the experience offered to residents in smart cities and whether or not it transcends basic functions and services. Looking through the eyes of a designer and resident of one of the prestigious `Smart` cities in the UK; Milton Keynes, the research reflects on and reports the daily urban encounters and experiences on the ground.
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Why is it important?
The paper presented insights into the experiential aspects of a case study that is overwhelmed with the smart city agenda. This fills a gap in knowledge in smart cities literature which helps to go beyond recycled views and publications. Four main themes are introduced to the analysis and interpretation of the data gathered; Facilitating the Making of a Livable City and Quality Experience, Mental Associations of the City, The Unique Intimacy of the Night Experience, Emotional Responses: Safety, Stress and Discomfort, and the Taste of the City: Character, Wayfinding and Monotony. This enables better presentation and communication on the issues discussed. Nevertheless, they are not to be understood in silos. The findings are derived from various qualitative methods used to analyse the case study. This includes interviews, field observations and visual comparisons with other cases, allowing for a deeper understanding of the different capabilities of the different approaches.
Perspectives
It is hard to progress to better cities and environments for humans and the planet if we do not break from conventional methods and designs. This paper introduces a number of issues and suggestions to improve how cities are being designed for a better impact on those who live in them as they are the main factor that makes those cities prosper in the first place.
Faten Hatem
University of the West of England
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Making of the Liveable City; the Overlooked Aspects of Smart Cities Design, October 2023, Authorea, Inc.,
DOI: 10.22541/au.169754951.11393826/v2.
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