The façade of the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Słupsk has been given a new look thanks to a mural created using the relief technique. The design and execution are the work of Jacek Wielebski, who – in collaboration with the school’s pupils – created a decoration based on motifs drawn from Słupsk’s public spaces. The work took several months and covered not only the façade itself, but also the signage, fencing, new lighting and handrails at the entrance.
The project was the final stage of the investment in the building, which the school had previously purchased, renovated and adapted to educational needs. Once the interior work was complete, it was time to tidy up the exterior of the building – both technically and in terms of its appearance. After the building was insulated, new plaster and a new colour scheme were applied, but it was the visual layer that was intended to give the whole structure a cohesive character.
Motifs drawn from the city
The project was developed in early 2025. Wielebski invited pupils to take part in workshops, during which they explored Słupsk together, documenting architectural details, urban divisions and characteristic elements of public space. The material gathered formed the basis for selecting motifs, which were then transformed into a delicate, linear drawing on the façade.
The collaboration with the young people was significant not only in educational terms. It enabled the creation of a decoration that is rooted in the local context and, at the same time, interpreted as a contemporary take on urban forms.
Organising a chaotic structure
The secondary school building, having undergone numerous reconstructions and modernisations, had lost its compositional coherence. The haphazard arrangement of windows and various alterations from previous years meant that the façade required reorganisation. Wielebski decided to consolidate and emphasise selected divisions in order to calm the visual chaos and highlight the entrance area.
It was crucial to maintain a uniform colour scheme for the façade and avoid strong accents. The designer aimed to ensure the building blended harmoniously with the neighbouring buildings, with the decoration acting as a subtle complement rather than a dominant feature.
Relief in the thermal insulation layer
Although the inspiration was a design carved into plaster, traditional technology proved too heavy for the existing structure. Technical limitations provided the impetus to develop a new method for working with the top layer of thermal insulation. This made it possible to create a precise relief that retains lightness and durability, whilst expanding the range of decorative solutions available for this type of substrate.
The effect is subtle yet striking. The linear composition covers the entire surface of the façade, creating a cohesive, delicately three-dimensional structure.
The mural is not the whole story
The project also included accompanying elements: new signage, lighting, fencing and door handrails. As a result, the whole has gained a uniform, refined look, and the school – a clear and professional image. The project has become not only a decoration but also a tool for building the institution’s identity and may positively influence the development of the students’ sense of aesthetics.
The relief mural on the façade of the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Słupsk is an example of how a subtle intervention can organise the architecture, enhance its perception and, at the same time, reference the local context. It is also proof that technical constraints can become an impetus for creating new, valuable solutions.
film: Maciej Stempij
photos: Maciej Stempij / Joanna Miejska
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