March 20, 2026

Colleagues from the MIT Urban Risk Lab and Hasso Plattner Institute presented the Edible Sunshades project during a poster session at a Hasso Plattner Institute conference held at the MIT Media Lab on March 20. The presentation was delivered by Miho Mazereeuw, Justin Brazier, Katrina Chan, and Elizabeth Yuu as part of the second day of the event.

Edible Sunshades is a modular planter system that integrates hydroponic growing with structures that support climbing plants. The system is designed to provide shade while producing food, with the aim of addressing urban heat exposure and food access. It includes self-monitoring components that track environmental conditions and plant health within a compact growing setup.

The project was developed as an intervention for Boston’s triple-decker housing typology, where porches and balconies can be adapted for small-scale agriculture. The design is intended to be flexible and applicable to other urban contexts. The poster session provided an opportunity to share the project’s design approach and ongoing research with conference participants.