Sometimes it only takes a small splash of color to liven up the look of a cluttered or downtrodden downtown area. And, sure, a fresh coat of paint always looks nice, but do you know what looks even better? Giant blooming flowers! Having trouble visualizing how these floral monstrosities would work? Then read on! The secret behind their movements will surprise you!

These gigantic, 30-foot-high and 30-foot-wide red flowers aren’t statues—they are actually streetlights. And they don’t just stay stationary; they actually “bloom” each time a pedestrian passes under one.

The project, which is entitled “Warde,” was first constructed in one of Jerusalem’s many crowded meeting points, Vallero Square. According to a statement from the design firm behind the project, HQ Architects, the motivation behind building the motion-activated flowers was “to improve the urban space of the city center.”

Now, if you’re looking at the photos of these massive flowers and scratching your head, don’t fret. This art installation was meant to be thought-provoking, and, even better, accessible!

You see, the four colossal flowers were expertly placed so that they could be enjoyed from every single corner of this public area. The city of Jerusalem’s main goal was not to necessarily improve the square’s infrastructure, but instead “tigh [sic] the urban space together.”

Vallero Square, which houses both a popular tram station and a bustling outdoor market, includes urban structures that are usually considered to be “eyesores,” like an electricity substation and a waste compactor, for instance. Nevertheless, with the addition of these vivid, cherry-colored flowers, it’s easy to forget the unavoidable plights of this chaotic area.

We just love the fact that the installation also brings forth the feeling of being in nature, even in such a stuffy metropolitan environment. Every time one of these streetlights senses motion—for example, someone walking under it—an inflation gauge is activated, causing the flower’s petals to expand, giving it the illusion that it is blooming.

Believe it or not, “Warde” isn’t just beautiful to watch, the installation itself also serves a couple of many important purposes. Along with creating something interesting to look at for passersby, the flowers also generate shelter from the sunlight, and alert waiting passengers to when a train is approaching. The architects behind the project go on to explain:

If a by­passer is looking for a moment of shade during the hot summer days, the flower will inflate and stay open until the person leaves. When the tram is approaching the station ­ all four flowers will inflate at once and signal the shoppers to hurry if they want to catch the tram. The result – the Urban space suddenly reacts to the people using it.

To see the massive crimson flowers bloom, be sure to click on HQ Architects video below! I think that these awesome art installations would look great in just about any city.

What do you think of this creative art installation? Have you seen these gigantic flowers in person before? What is your all-time favorite piece of public art? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!