Urban metabolisms in context: A socio-material comparison of American and French urban and suburban communities

Abstract

Understanding the similarities and discrepancies between the metabolic activities of neighborhoods in various geographical contexts and spaces is crucial to enhancing effective resource management and sustainability. Yet, research comparing the urban metabolism (UM) of compact urban centers and spatially dispersed suburbs across different international contexts, through the lens of space and socio-material processes is notably lacking. This gap therefore raises an important question: “how do socio-material processes influence the metabolic characteristics of neighborhoods across different cultural and spatial settings?” To address these questions, we conducted a comparative analysis of the metabolism of four neighborhoods located in the metropolitan areas of Paris (France) and Boston (United States): République and Back Bay, representing compact urban centers, and Noisy-Champs and Westwood, representing dispersed suburbs. To do so, we developed dynamic metabolic models at the scale of the neighborhood, using QGIS, Excel, and Sankeymatics. The findings reveal that, while similar spatial characteristics foster comparable metabolic dynamics across the sites, differences also emerge from complex multi-layered socio-material processes at different scales. Understanding these dynamics is essential for urban planners and policymakers seeking to develop sustainable urban environments that integrate local practices with broader regional and global resource networks.