Future narratives for the city: smart and sustainable?

This chapter discusses and analyses how cities can be typified and conceptualised in terms of their ‘ideal’ characteristics. To do this, the chapter examine how new theories, such as actor network theory (ANT) and ‘urban assemblage’ theory, can help inform our thinking about cities. The emergence of sustainable cities and smart cities ic critically reviewed before looking at the concept of ‘smart and sustainable cities’, and why visions lie at the heart of ‘urban futures’. Ultimately, it is argued that, if we are to re-imagine the future of our cities and create a solid basis for exploring and developing ‘urban futures’-based thinking, part of that process requires the co-production of coherent, participatory city visions that recognise the innate value of a place’s character, and the needs of the people that live, work and play there.