The Metabolism of Tabriz, A Sustainable Scenario Interconnecting Urban Flows

In response to the urgent global need for sustainable urban development, this thesis explores the application of urban metabolism as a framework to transform Tabriz, a major Iranian city, into a more resource-efficient and ecologically balanced urban system. Urban metabolism interprets the city as a living organism that consumes, transforms, and expels resources. By analyzing the city through this lens, the research identifies key material and energy flows - water, energy, waste, and food - that can be optimized to reduce environmental impact and enhance urban resilience. After a review of existing literature on urban metabolism and international case studies, the thesis focuses on the case of Tabriz. Firstly, the city is studied at the territorial scale by adopting a methodology used in other international cases. Secondly and coherently with the literature, the thesis explores possible strategies. To contextualize and test these strategies, three distinct areas in Tabriz were selected for detailed design application: Tarbiat Street (a dense commercial pedestrian corridor), Shahgoli Park (a historic and ecological green space), and various vacant urban lots. Each site was assessed based on its spatial potential and strategic relevance to urban flows, and custom interventions were proposed accordingly. The result is a vision for Tabriz as a metabolic city — where design enables the circulation, reuse, and minimization of resources in harmony with ecological and social systems. This thesis contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urbanism in the Middle East by offering locally grounded, future-oriented strategies that demonstrate how Iranian cities can transition toward greater environmental and metabolic efficiency.