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The Perception of Architectural Space. Murals as an Important Element in the Revitalisation of Urban Fabric Cover

The Perception of Architectural Space. Murals as an Important Element in the Revitalisation of Urban Fabric

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1, 2, 3.

Images of residents, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Images of residents, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 4, 5, 6.

Paintings of pets: dogs, cats and exotic animals and plants, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Paintings of pets: dogs, cats and exotic animals and plants, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 7, 8, 9.

Murals in the gateway, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Murals in the gateway, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 10.

Fragment of a passageway, gate leading into the courtyard photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Fragment of a passageway, gate leading into the courtyard photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 11.

Fairy tale mural in the backyard photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Fairy tale mural in the backyard photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 12.

General view of the backard, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
General view of the backard, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 13.

fragment of one of the murals, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
fragment of one of the murals, photo: Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Fig. 14, 15, 16.

Katowice, ul. Mariacka Tylna, ROA, Birds mural cycle, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Katowice, ul. Mariacka Tylna, ROA, Birds mural cycle, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 17.

View of the Mariacka Tylna street mural on the firstplan: year of creation 2012, Creators: two Italian artists Tellas and Teo Pirisi working under the name Moneyless. Unfortunately, it has already lost its intense black colour and it is hard to see the original perfectly geometric spirals on it. photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
View of the Mariacka Tylna street mural on the firstplan: year of creation 2012, Creators: two Italian artists Tellas and Teo Pirisi working under the name Moneyless. Unfortunately, it has already lost its intense black colour and it is hard to see the original perfectly geometric spirals on it. photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 18.

Space between the buildings, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Space between the buildings, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 19.

Katowice, Mariacka Tylna 19, Zbigniew Wodecki, year of creation 2023, Creators: Czary -Mury: Marek Grela and Marta Piróg, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska
Katowice, Mariacka Tylna 19, Zbigniew Wodecki, year of creation 2023, Creators: Czary -Mury: Marek Grela and Marta Piróg, photo. Joanna Zabawa-Krzypkowska

Figure 20.

Gdańsk, Map illustrating the location of the murals on the Zaspa housing estate.
Own drawing based on source: muralegdanskzaspa.pl
Gdańsk, Map illustrating the location of the murals on the Zaspa housing estate. Own drawing based on source: muralegdanskzaspa.pl

Analysis of examples: Gdańsk_ Original work based on the literature, site visits, visual analysis, and photographic documentation

GDAŃSK
Type of spaceChosen murals
Public spacesemi-private spaceMulticoloured, large-format works of varied subject matter and composition, located on individual blocks of the estate
SOCIAL DIMENSIONSPATIAL DIMENSIONAESTHETIC DIMENTION
• Element of identification of the space, identity of the place, (work co-created by residents)• Increasing the prestige of a place• Enrichment of the appearance of buildings and the whole environment
• Visual element - sign, message, information in urban space• Introduction of colour into the environment
• Support for the city• (urban attraction that attracts tourists)Landmark

Summary of analysis exampless:Wrocław, Katowice, Gdańsk

Examples of research projectsWroclaw backyardKatowice back-up areas of the buildingGdańsk blocks of flats
Social dimensionElement of identification of the space, identity of the place,(work co-created by residents)+++
Element of social integration of the inhabitants+
Support for the city (urban attraction that attracts tourists)+++
Spatial dimensionIncreasing the prestige of a place+++
Visual element – sign, message, information in urban space+++
Aesthetic dimensionEnrichment of the appearance of buildings and the whole environment+++
Introduction of colour into the environment+++

Analysis of examples: Wroclaw_ Original work based on the literature, site visits, visual analysis, and photographic documentation

WROCLAW
Type of spaceChosen murals
BackyardsSemi-privare spaceCompact buildingsMulticolored murals, covering a large part of the buildings of tenement houses and gates (mostly themes related to the place and its inhabitants), fairy tale themes, portraits of famous people, illustration of events
SOCIAL DIMENSIONSPATIAL DIMENSIONAESTHETIC DIMENTION
• Element of identification of the space, identity of the space, (work co-created by residents)• Increasing the prestige of a place• Enrichment of the appearance of buildings and the whole environment
• Element of social integration of the inhabitants• Visual element – sign, message, information in urban space• Introduction of colour into the environment
Support for the cityLandmark

Analysis of examples: Katowice_ Original work based on the literature, site visits, visual analysis, and photographic documentation

KATOWICE
Type of spaceChosen murals
Public spacesemi-private spacecompact buildings,back-up areas of the buildingMulti-coloured, large-scale worksAs well as small-scale works in courtyard spaces.Diverse themes.
SOCIAL DIMENSIONSPATIAL DIMENSIONAESTHETIC DIMENTION
• Element of identification of the space, identity of the place, (work co-created by residents)• Increasing the prestige of a place• Enrichment of the appearance of buildings and the whole environment
• Visual element - sign, message, information in urban space• Introduction of colour into the environment
• Support for the city• (urban attraction that attracts tourists)Landmark
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2025-0042 | Journal eISSN: 2720-6947 | Journal ISSN: 1899-0142
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 11
Submitted on: Nov 6, 2024
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Accepted on: Oct 20, 2025
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Published on: Dec 26, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Joanna ZABAWA-KRZYPKOWSKA, published by Silesian University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 18 (2025): Issue 4 (December 2025)