In the heart of Cambridge’s Central Square lies a striking art installation known as Sun Block, described as a giant mesh cube held aloft by four metallic poles. With its airy grey mesh fabric and precast concrete stoops inside for seating, the structure has become a focal point of both admiration and criticism from residents.
Cambridge resident Katherine Neal is among those who find the installation unappealing. “It’s just very, like, grey and industrial looking,” she remarked, expressing her view that it serves as an “obstruction and an eyesore in this area that is otherwise a lovely little park.” In an effort to gauge public sentiment, Neal took her concerns to Reddit, posting, “Does anyone else hate this art installation in Central Square?”
The responses to her post were varied, with many users chiming in. One commenter mused, “I always thought it was just for construction or something,” while another humorously compared the installation to a gag from the television show Parks and Recreation. However, some voiced their support for the installation, with one individual mentioning, “I actually enjoy it and use it for shade regularly.”
Sun Block is one of five projects created under the Shade is Social Justice program, which aims to address climate resilience. Funded by a $100,000 grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Barr Foundation, the installation seeks to highlight the importance of shade amid the escalating global temperatures.
Claudia Zarazua, the Cambridge Arts and Culture Planning Director, clarified the installation’s dual purpose. “It’s public art that provided shade and sparked conversation about heat,” Zarazua explained. With rising heat being described as the “silent killer,” she noted the urgent need for shaded areas in the city, especially given that 2024 was documented as the hottest year on record in the contiguous United States.
According to the city’s ShadeScape analysis, approximately 40% of Cambridge’s sidewalks receive shade at noon from trees and buildings, whereas Sun Block’s location—Rhone Park—experiences less than 20% shade during midday. Originally slated to be dismantled at the end of summer 2024, the installation received an extension and was reinstalled for another season in June, with plans for its removal in September.
On a recent sunny Friday, a solitary figure was noticed sitting within the shade of Sun Block, while another patron, Madison Kim, opted for the natural shade of a tree. Kim commented, “It doesn’t kind of seem as welcoming. If there were a lot of people sitting in there, maybe I would’ve also ventured my way inside.”
Gabriel Cira and Matthew Okazaki, the architects and co-designers of Sun Block, have embraced the critical feedback. Cira shared his perspective, stating, “When people say something is an eyesore, that usually means that they’re unfamiliar with it. And that is precisely our point is to present something that challenges the expectations of the viewer.”
Rather than standard benches, the designers chose concrete stoops to encourage organic interactions among visitors. Cira expressed a vision of community, hoping that passersby would relate the seating to a familiar scene of neighbors conversing on their front steps.
The artistic endeavor faced some constraints, including the requirement for the structure to be temporary, collapsible, and without any ground drilling. Due to its location over an MBTA line, the artists faced limitations that complicated their efforts to create shaded refuge.
Critics have pointed out the installation’s price tag of $27,000, casting doubt on its value. In response, Cira defended the expenses, remarking that $27,000 for outdoor-grade furniture represents a modest budget in the arts realm. “Not to mention that arts are perennially unfunded, and it’s like, do you want creative people to be able to survive in the city?” Cira asked.
In support of the initiative, Okazaki expressed gratitude for the city’s investment in local artists, describing it as an inspirational commitment to creativity in Cambridge.
While plans for a permanent shade solution are underway, Zarazua stated that specifics regarding design and timeline are not yet available. However, the Shade is Social Justice program has paved the way for additional art projects in the 2025 budget cycle, suggesting a promising future for public art in the area.
Katherine Neal, the original critic who initiated the Reddit discussion, offered a suggestion for future installations, advocating for simpler and more vibrant designs. “There are already tables with umbrellas in the area,” she noted. “So if the umbrellas were maybe designed with vibrant fabric from local artists … [that] would support the ideas of the initiative while bringing vibrancy and beauty to the area.”
image source from：wbur
