Made up of almost 30 trillion tonnes of materials, global cities are an entanglement of constantly evolving structures, geometrically complex systems and spatially disperse environments. They are devices that shape energy, information and material fluxes, which accumulate over time and merge into the rigid exoskeleton of human societies.

What does it mean for architecture to be the support of these transformations? This dynamic process can be approached by investigating the material basis of architecture: its intricate constructions, foundations, frameworks, cracks, models, joints, erosion, wear and tear, renovations and interconnections. The question of finding out how to measure the weight of a city challenges the public to detect signals of the Anthropocene amid the noise of the Earth.

Fluxes is one of the three main exhibitions of 'How Heavy Is a City?', the 7th edition of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale, together with Spectres, at MUDE – Museu do Design, and Lighter, at MAC/CCB.