Until recently, people had no reason to linger in Vallero Square, in the heart of Jerusalem, Israel. People passed through the small park on their way to and from work. Despite its central location, there was nothing to attract people to gather there. Hoping to brighten the stark city square, designers from HQ Architects installed four giant artificial flowers in it. 

Known as the Warde project, the bright-red flowers are nearly 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Pressurized air allows the flowers to “bloom” and “wilt” in response to the motion of people nearby. Lights inside the flowers create a warm, soft glow after sunset. “The urban space suddenly reacts to the people using it,” explains  a representative from HQ Architects. The project’s designers hope the flowers will make the square a friendlier place for community events.