Four Questions

How should  arts and culture  being recognized, in the discourse on cities of the future (smart or otherwise)? Why is it necessary to have a  cultural perspective  in the global smart city discourse?

The smart city discourse has been too dominated by technological aims - surveillance and control - instead of taking into account such cultural and social issues as meaningful experiences and the quality of the environment.

How should / can we talk about  smart city  and  urban transformation  beyond technology and infrastructure?

It is misleading to think that planning or design should be based on problem solving, or just today's needs.Cities and buildings can be wise and long-lasting instead of just smart.
What is the connection of  arts and cultural practice  and  technology  in (future) urban societies?

The evolving technology allows that the institutional threshold for becoming recognized as an artist becomes lower.

Please share your  expert prediction  or  utopian view  of the city of the future.

Science fiction displays believable urban futures. I hope that it will not turn out to be Max Max's tribal nomadism, but rather Star Trek's flying city - a humanitarian mission towards self-improvement.