**Joanna Tymkiewicz**

Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; joanna.tymkiewicz@polsl.pl; Tel.: +48-322-372-418

Received: 22 September 2019; Accepted: 17 October 2019; Published: 21 October 2019

**Abstract:** The idea of sustainable smart city has extensive scientific literature where the architects' role in designing built environments, being a physical platform for implementing "elderly-friendly" solutions, is poorly referenced. The main objective of the article is to define the role of architects in creating the image of sustainable smart cities, focusing on senior citizens. The paper surveys the available literature on the subject and describes pilot studies carried out at the indicative level among the students of one of architecture faculties in Poland, based on the design thinking method. The studies demonstrate how students imagine intelligent elderly-friendly cities in the future from the architects' perspective. In addition, examples of other studies with the students of that faculty are presented. Following the analyses combining the conclusions of research and pilot studies with the students, a tabular summary of the architects' tasks and roles were provided—these were divided into six building blocks of a smart city and as a reference to the elements shaping the image of cities, districts and buildings. This is a new, innovative classification of architectural issues. The perspectives for further desk research and field participatory research were indicated, which should, in the future, translate into a novel holistic approach to the problem.

**Keywords:** sustainable smart city; architect; image of the city; participatory design; body of the building; facades; roofs; built environment; design thinking method
