Giant flowers bloom as pedestrians approach

In Jerusalem, architects have designed towering, motion-sensing flowers that react to the bustle of the city.

In 2004, Joseph Hart described the discipline of psychogeography as “Just about anything that takes pedestrians off their predictable paths and jolts them into a new awareness of the urban landscape.” Public installation architecture can do exactly that and here at Springwise we have written about some excellent examples. This Korean artist designed an ear shaped sculpture that listens to the opinions of passersby and relays it to city hall, and this mural in Bologna purifies the air. Now, in Israel, HQ Architects have created giant, kinetic flowers that respond to the movement around them.

The Warde project is a public installation designed to interact with its environment. Based in Jerusalem’s Vallero Square — which is often perceived as a run down area — the giant flower sculptures are big enough to attract attention. The towering poppies are motion activated, coming to life when pedestrians walk past them. HQ Architects explain, “The urban space suddenly reacts to the people using it.” When open, the flowers offer shade from the sun or light when nighttime approaches. As activity subsides, the flowers gradually ‘wilt’ and close.

The designers have created a playfully responsive design that interacts and feeds of the busy and dynamic nature of the marketplace. How else could interactive design create a sense of engagement between cities and their inhabitants?