Revitalization of urban spaces in Warsaw’s Kamionek housing estate through the art of murals – an example of a participatory design process

Motives: The recovery of urban areas from crisis is a multi-stage process consisting of coordinated activities in the economic, spatial, and socio-cultural spheres, which has no chance of success without the contribution of shareholders. Therefore, revitalization processes are very strongly linked to participation and other inclusive activities. Art in urban space can be an example of an activity based on social capital, whose aesthetic function is often extended to include an educational aspect and a meaning-symbolic aspect, and which can become a semiotic code, a form of demonstrating values and taming space. Aim:. The aim of this study was to show the power of the message of mural art applied to activate degraded parts of the city and revive the inhabitants’ bond with the place. Results: The mural project carried out in the Kamionek housing estate in Praga was preceded by a process of spatial and landscape analysis and social research, which confirmed the effectiveness of the use of mural art in the revitalization of this particular urban space. The presentation of the process of creating the project with the participation of the local community can serve as an example for other cities.