Anti-smog "breathing" mural painted in Warsaw's Wola district

The "breathing" mural has been painted on a building at Wschowska 10 Street. Not on just one wall - it covers the whole building. The painting shows characteristic landmarks of the district, such as the Church of St. Wojciech, Wola Gasworks, as well as the modern skyscrapers built in recent years.

"Not only did we like the graphic project, but also the very idea itself. We agreed to share the elevation of this building also because of the mural's positive impact on the environment. The artists painted nearly all of it with an anti-smog paint which, when spreaded on such a vast surface, cleans the air with the force of some 400 trees," said chief of Wola's Department of Real Estate Management (ZGN Wola) Mateusz Matejewski.

The mural was designed by artist Tytus Brzozowski, whose works often focus on Warsaw. "He decorates the city with incredible works which relate to the architecture, history, and the spirit of places they can be found at. They're vivid, colourful, and at the border between reality and fantasy," ZGN Wola informs. Brzozowski's murals can be seen at 12 Próżna Street, 1 Kijowska Street, 215 Grochowska Street, and 120 Chmielna Street, among others.

The idea of the project was to make a mural that would refresh the building, add colour to the area, and cheer up local residents and passersby. The artists used the structure of the building as canvas and placed many references to the culture and history of Wola.

The anti-smog mural neutralises nitrogen oxides, reduces air pollution caused by the toxic formaldehyde, prevents spread of bacteria and mould, eliminates bad odours, liquidates viruses and bacteria located directly at the surface covered with the layer of paint, kills fungi and mould spores, and creates a breathing layer preventing damp from penetrating the walls.