SCAF: Technology to Citizen Well-being – A Smart City Architecture Framework Based on TOGAF

The development of smart cities has often followed a technocentric vision, prioritizing infrastructure and digitalization without clear alignment to citizens’ needs. This article proposes the Smart City Architecture Framework (SCAF), a TOGAF-based model starting from strategic drivers focused on citizen well-being. Through a systematic literature review and comparative analysis, common limitations are identified, including lack of citizen participation and traceability between strategy and technology. SCAF introduces a five-layer methodological sequence—drivers, vision, processes, applications, and infrastructure—to coherently link aspirations with technological solutions. The article concludes by discussing implementation challenges and future empirical validation in urban contexts.