Borisov. Pharmacy No. 137.

In the very center of Borisov, at the intersection of busy streets, there is a building that is difficult to miss. It does not try to compete with the height of glass new buildings, but attracts the eye with its monumental beauty. This is pharmacy No. 137, a unique architectural monument that has been welcoming citizens for almost half a century not only with medicines, but also with a real work of monumental art.

The pharmacy building was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the heyday of Soviet modernism. This was a time when architects and artists were looking for new forms of art synthesis, striving to make typical public buildings not just boxes, but aesthetically significant objects. And the pharmacy in Borisov has become one of the clearest examples of this trend in Belarus.

The facade is like a canvas.

The main feature and pride of pharmacy No. 137 is its monumental mosaic panel decorating the end of the building facing the intersection. The author of this large-scale work was the famous Belarusian muralist Vasily Vasilyevich Zenko.

The master created a real hymn to nature and flora. The mosaic, made of smalt and handmade ceramic tiles, depicts a stylized world of plants. The composition reveals inflorescences, herbs, and healing roots that seem to grow through the geometric structure of the wall, turning the gray concrete into a blooming meadow. The mosaic's color is very finely chosen: there are deep emerald, terracotta, and golden shades that play differently in the sun depending on the time of day.

Zenko worked in the technique of "Florentine mosaics" and a set panel, where each piece of material was selected manually. It was a colossal job that required not only artistic genius, but also engineering calculation. The artist created not just a picture, but a three-dimensional relief, the texture of which gives the building a special expressiveness.

The interior as a continuation of the theme.

The interior of the pharmacy was not inferior to the facade. Artists also worked on the interior design, striving to create a single ensemble. Unfortunately, time and the numerous repairs that the building has gone through have not spared the interior. Many of the original decorative elements, stained glass windows and murals that complemented the image of the "green pharmacy" were lost.

The fate of a masterpiece in our day.

In the 2000s and 2010s, when a wave of renovations and rebranding took place across the country, the fate of the mosaic hung in the balance. Often such panels were ruthlessly knocked down, covered with siding or painted over, considering them a relic of the past. The residents of Borisov stood up for their symbol. Discussions about the need to preserve Vasily Zenko's work have been raised more than once on social networks and urban publications.

As a result, common sense and public opinion prevailed. In the early 2020s, when the building was undergoing major repairs, a historic decision was made to restore and preserve the mosaic. The specialists carefully cleaned the panels of dirt, reinforced the peeling elements, and the facade sparkled with new colors.

Today, the renovated pharmacy No. 137 is not just a place where you can buy medicines. It is a cultural landmark, a "postcard" view of the city. It reminds us of a time when the design of even utilitarian buildings was approached with soul and scope.

Importance for the city.

The pharmacy with mosaics has long become something more than just a landmark for Borisov residents ("meet me at the pharmacy with mosaics"). It is a symbol of the connection between generations, a reminder that even in the era of standardization there is a place for high art. Thanks to the talent of Belarusian artists and the caring attitude of the citizens, the Borisov center is decorated with a unique artifact of the Modernist era, which organically fits into the modern urban landscape, becoming its highlight and living history accessible to every passerby.