The culture of the smart city among past, present and future.

The smart city defnition can be assumed as an achievement of a cultural heritage given by several reference archetypes. Often they are positive references, sometimes they are negatives. Such models can be traced in the ancient city, in the modern city as well as in the contemporary city. The essay deal with a topic focused on the cultural evolution of the city, paying attention on those aspects related to the environmental comfort and the outdoor spaces “usability”, even including nowadays needs connected to the environmental protection. Furthermore, the essay outlines some examples of design strategies and technics taken into account both in the historical and contemporary city; it describes also several aspects characterising the cutting-edge smart city: a place where it would be desirable live all soon. A city that has become the product of an integrated and balanced approach between instruments and bottom-up initiatives in order to serve the citizens’ involvement. Finally, the chapter – within a framework of wellbeing and environmental sustainability needs – species some features regarding to the outdoor design and the “urban” materials selection.