City root -’’Grow more waste less’’
First modular hydroponic system for balconies
In contemporary cities, transparency around how food is produced is decreasing, while fast-paced lifestyles and small balconies make it hard for people to grow their own food. The objective of this project is to translate hydroponic technology into an approachable, balcony‑scale system that gives urban residents more control over their food through low‑effort, space‑efficient and energy‑independent cultivation
Objective
10 weeks
2023
Design duration
Team Project (4 Person)
Research
Form, Assembly & mechanism ideation
Visuals
Prototyping
Cad
My Role
Tools
Creo & Sketchup
60% of participants had at most 1 m² of usable balcony space, Of those, 80% said they’d grow their own food if the system fit their space and needs.
Food reaches cities through long, complex supply chains, not focused on reducing grid electricity use or food miles.
Up to ~40–45% of fruits and vegetables are lost or wasted along the supply chain
Typical kits cost €85-165/year to run
Most smart gardens run on household electricity, adding a recurring cost to daily use.
01 — Minimal footprint, maximum yield
Fit within a 50cm × 2m vertical space while still producing meaningful amounts of leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens
02 — Full energy autonomy
Operate independently of the household power grid via an integrated solar panel and battery
03 — Form follows sunlight
In a vertical layout, upper modules can shade lower ones, so sun exposure becomes a primary driver of the product's geometry
05 — Resilient and forggiving by design
The system must tolerate periods of user absence without crop failure, through automation, smart alerts, and a drip-based hydroponic method that reduces the margin for user error
06 — Effortless maintenance access
Key components must be physically accessible without tools or disassembly, making routine cleaning and refilling a simple, intuitive task
Goals & design challenges
This is what Tom asked for & what the research revealed he silently needed
How might we design a home growing system that fits the realities of urban life
The Solution
City Root is a compact, energy-autonomous hydroponic growing system designed for urban balconies, where space, time, and technical knowledge are limited.
Using a drip-based hydroponic method, the system enables high-yield cultivation of leafy vegetables, herbs, and microgreens in a minimal footprint — without requiring continuous user attention. Its core innovation is full energy independence.
The architecture is modular, consisting of six interchangeable modules each supporting three plants, allowing users to scale production to their household size and available space. A companion app automates monitoring, guides plant care, and communicates system status — abstracting all technical complexity behind a clear, intuitive interface.
Its organic form makes City Root feel like it belongs on a balcony
Designed for intuitive, tool-free configuration.
Bayonet-lock modules twist on and off in seconds, allowing users to scale the system around the number and variety of plants they want to grow.
Research-driven engineering
The system was developed beyond visual representation through energy, usability, and mobility considerations. Solar calculations show that the integrated panel and battery can sustain operation for up to 10 days in cloudy conditions, while built-in wheels and safely removable modules make the system easy to relocate, carry, and reconfigure.
Guided growing
The app translates system data into clear, time-based actions—alerting users when to water, harvest, clean the solar panel, or check temperature. It reduces daily uncertainty and helps users maintain healthy plants with minimal effort, while offering a simple way to share growing progress with friends.
MORE THAN JUST A PRODUCT.
A GROWING NEED.
Bringing food production back into everyday urban life. A modular, solar-powered hydroponic system that transforms limited balcony space into a personal source of fresh food.