Mumbai, June 29, 2026: When Chandak Group approached creative design and art studio ZA Works to create a mural for its Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) redevelopment project in Borivali East, the brief was ambitious; transform a rehabilitation building into a landmark that residents could identify with, take pride in and call their own.
The challenge was unlike a conventional mural project. Spread across three separate surfaces of a residential tower and spanning more than twenty floors, the artwork needed to function as a single visual narrative despite the scale, architectural complexity and viewing distances involved.
The result is one of Mumbai’s tallest vertical murals, covering approximately 15,000 sq. ft. and stretching from the 13th to the 34th floor of the SRA tower. Painting across such elevated floors presented a unique logistical and technical challenge, as most large-scale murals are traditionally executed from ground level.
The Brief: Create More Than a Building
As part of its ongoing commitment to community-focused redevelopment, Chandak Group sought to create a visual identity for the rehabilitation tower that would resonate with residents while also contributing positively to the city’s evolving skyline.
The objective extended beyond beautification. The mural needed to communicate hope, aspiration, dignity and the transformative impact of homeownership; values central to the rehabilitation journey of thousands of families moving into formal housing.
The Creative Idea: The Key Within
Responding to the brief, ZA Works developed a concept titled “The Key Within.”
At the centre of the artwork stands a young girl holding a golden key while facing a keyhole-shaped portal that opens into a vibrant landscape beyond. Butterflies travel across the building’s surfaces, visually connecting different sections of the mural and guiding the viewer’s gaze upward.
The symbolism is intentionally simple yet powerful. The key represents opportunity, ownership and new beginnings, while the portal reflects the transition into a more secure and hopeful future. Together, the imagery celebrates the moment when a family receives the keys to a home; a milestone that often transforms generations.
Solving a Twenty-Storey Creative Puzzle
While the concept was emotionally driven, its execution demanded extensive technical planning.
One of the project’s greatest challenges was ensuring visual continuity across multiple surfaces stretching twenty floors vertically. Every line, curve, transition and visual element had to align perfectly when viewed from the ground, despite being painted across separate sections of the structure.
For ZA Works, the project became as much an exercise in problem-solving as artistic expression.
Over months of planning and weeks of execution, the team navigated issues ranging from scale and alignment to weather conditions, access constraints, logistics and precision painting at significant heights.
The mural was brought to life by a multidisciplinary team of 16 professionals, including designers, artists and project managers. With a core group of 6–8 artists leading the execution, the team collectively invested more than 270 hours to realize the project.
Building Identity Through Public Art
The project reflects a growing shift in how developers are thinking about public art within urban redevelopment.
Rather than treating art as an afterthought, Chandak Group envisioned the mural as an integral part of the resident experience; an intervention capable of creating identity, fostering belonging and strengthening community pride.
Commenting on the project, a spokesperson from Chandak Group said, “Redevelopment is not merely about constructing buildings; it is about transforming lives and restoring dignity. Through this mural, we wanted to create a visual symbol of hope for every family aspiring for a better future. The artwork reflects the emotional significance of receiving a home, a moment that changes generations. We wanted to go a step further by beautifying the building as well, so that residents feel a sense of pride.
Speaking about the creative journey, a spokesperson from ZA Works said, “This mural was envisioned as more than a large-scale artwork; it is a reflection on transformation, possibility, and the power of taking on ambitious challenges one step at a time. Bringing together multiple surfaces across twenty floors into a single visual narrative was both a creative and technical undertaking, requiring precision, persistence, and constant problem-solving. What made this project especially meaningful was not just the scale of the mural, but the opportunity to create something that contributes to the identity of an entire community. In many ways, the journey of creating it transformed us as a team as much as it transformed the building itself.”
Campaign Thought
At its core, The Key Within is a reminder that transformation happens one step at a time.
Just as the mural itself came together through hundreds of small decisions, careful planning, and persistent execution, the artwork reflects the larger journey of rehabilitation and renewal, where progress is built gradually, but the impact can be life-changing.
Today, the mural stands as a visual landmark on Mumbai’s skyline, celebrating not only housing and redevelopment, but also the possibilities that emerge when communities are given the opportunity to thrive.
Campaign Credits
Client: Chandak Group
Creative Partner: ZA Works
Project Title: The Key Within
Location: Borivali East, Mumbai
Artwork Size: Approx. 15,000 sq. ft.
Execution Team: 16 professionals including 6-8 artists, designers and project managers
Project Duration: 270+ execution hours
