ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the transition from exclusive to inclusive urban spaces in the smart city. It critiques a top-down approach to smart city development, the financialization of urban areas, and the resulting gentrification, which often benefits a privileged few while marginalizing vulnerable populations. The chapter argues that smart city technologies, while promising, can exacerbate existing inequalities if not designed and implemented inclusively as a pivotal element. The chapter proposes an approach based on the ‘right to the smart city’, emphasizing the need for participatory planning that includes diverse voices, especially those of marginalized groups. The chapter uses the New European Bauhaus project NEB-STAR in Stavanger, which experiments with participatory methods to create more inclusive urban environments. It calls for a shift in planning practices and the role of experts to prioritize the lived experiences of all city inhabitants, leveraging digital technologies, and collaborative approaches to foster social justice and equality in urban development. We further propose that strategic and persistent use of the legitimating power of artists, planners, researchers, and smart city technologies in support of marginalized visions throughout the planning process can lead to more just and inclusive urban development.
