How heavy is a city?

'How heavy is a city?'is an initiative that aims to analyse the magnitude of human activity from a unique perspective - material fluxes. It provides a new understanding of the intensification of urban environments and its impact on the planet by quantifying the amount of material that is used, consumed, and discarded by cities. Using advanced analytical tools and data from various sources, including satellite imagery and ground-based measurements, the lab analyses the material fluxes shaping cities, including the extraction and transport of raw materials, the production and distribution of goods, and the disposal of waste. By quantifying the amount of material that is involved in these processes, the lab creates a detailed picture of the material characterization of the technosphere—the new planetary system composed of all elements sustaining human life. 'How Heavy is a City?' is a multi-disciplinary initiative that brings together experts from architecture, art, environmental science, geology, geography, planning. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, the lab develops innovative solutions to the challenges posed by the Anthropocene that start in recomposing the city, and to promote sustainable development practices. The lab promotes cultural debates about the environmental impact of human activity, the extension and transformation of what we used to call the city. It encourages policymakers, industry leaders, and individuals to take action to reduce our global fluxes of materials.