When policymakers across Europe advised citizens to form a "bubble" to restrict their social interactions mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was most likely not what they said.

Alain Verschueren, a Belgian artist, and social worker has been walking around the Belgian capital wearing a "portable oasis" - a plexiglass mini-greenhouse that sits on his shoulders and cocoons him in a pocket of air filtered by the aromatic plants inside.

Verschueren, 61, came up with the idea 15 years ago after being fascinated by the green oases of Tunisia, where he worked previously.

In a city where face masks and shields are needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, his innovation has found new life.

"It was about building a bubble in which I could seal myself in, to shut myself off from a world that I found too dark, too loud, or stinky," Verschueren said, noting that he suffers from asthma and considers breathing through his contraption more relaxing rather than using a facemask.

"As time passed, I found that people were approaching me and conversing with me. This separation became even more of a means of communication "He said.

Spectators in Brussels were entertained and perplexed by the man, who was encased in a pod of thyme, rosemary, and lavender plants, roaming between the stores, which were mostly closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"It's a greenhouse, isn't it? Is that for the honeybees? Is that for the sake of the plants? We're not sure, but it's a smart idea "According to Charlie Elkiess, a former jeweler,

Verschueren said that he wanted to encourage us to take appropriate care of the environment, reducing the requirement to safeguard ourselves from air and noise contamination.