Designing Playful Cities: Audio-Visual Metaphors for New Urban Environment Experience

Smart City concept tends to improve quality of life by using digital technology and efficient consumption of resources. However, many other aspects related to the quality of citizens needs, such as social, entertaining and fun, which are beyond the efficiency are neglected as for the healthy and happy life of smart cities inhabitants. This paper discusses two playful outdoor artworks featuring audio-visual metaphors capable of involving the audience in playful and social experience in an urban space. We used sensor technologies and visually enhanced public spaces, together with sonic interaction design approach, to enrich aesthetic and fictional dimensions of the urban environments. Our design issues were to create playful and responsive public space which will immerse the audience in interactive audio-visual experience. The artworks “Vrroom” and “The Light and Shade of Realm” focus in on smart city concept viewpoint related to social rather than efficiency dimensions to consider in future living environments development.