Smart Cities. Science fiction and Reflections on the city of the future

The urban spaces of the contemporary city, present architects with some of the most urgent challenges in a world in constant transition between old and new paradigms. The growing complexity of our world, characterized by significant changes in the economic, social and cultural spheres compared to the previous century, requires a re-evaluation of the operational categories that shape these spaces and of the categories of social interaction that they can trigger and enhance. Furthermore, the urban and territorial planning of some regions, including ours and a large part of the southern European and Balkan area, remains bound to quantitative systems based on standards and mechanically analyzed data as the heritage of previous political regimes and centralized top-down planning. The studio explores the relationship between play and architecture, positioning play as an inclusive process that opens doors to imagination. Recognizing play as a synthetic and ethical driving force in architecture, the article highlights its role in fueling ongoing investigations, openings and contradictions within polysemic art. In response to these challenges, the paper advocates a methodological approach and digital implementations to equip the next generation of architects with tools to address evolving challenges. These tools aim to inspire creative solutions through a “design game” that embraces continuous changes in perspective and incorporates multidisciplinary and original systems.