The i-hotel is a unique concept conceived and created by our practice by invitation in 2005, long before the current rapid hotel development in the centre of Athens. It operates as a new business model prototype where the very best companies on luxury services or items, become the hosts of our stay. (Art galleries, jewelry, fine clothing, gourmet delicacies, body&soul treatments, audiovisual experiences etc). Also exclusive items are for viewing, or tasting or buying that are not available on the market. For example: An installation or a work of art made specifically for the i-hotel guests. Each suite is hosted by a different company or organization: outside each room, there is a show space for its services as an extension to the suite. Every suite is on a different level.
The i-hotel is very expensive, very exclusive, has the best room service and is ideal for a short stay in Athens. Found on all convenient locations in the centre of the city. The (i) hotel is a hotel about indulgence. The indulgence in small luxuries. Confessing our indulgences is something intimate, yet the life in the city exposes consumption and indulgence as a spectacle.
On the contrary in the i-hotel our indulgence is protected, it is invisible and also exclusive, hidden inside, away from the curious prying eyes. Our stay can be exposed and visible as the small suites are dressed in glass. Our presence becomes visible to the city, if we choose to. Or else, black-out thick velvet curtains protect our privacy in the enclosure of our room.
The i-hotel is designed specifically for local conditions; for the city of Athens. Athens has a lack of space on street level, thus street ground level is left as passage/meeting place. The conventional hotel lobby is stripped away on ground level. A singular entry point takes as straight to the i-hotel lobby on the roof top where we check-in at the reception, and check-out the view of the city before we go to our suite. And on our way to our room we secretly get a preview of the luxuries we may indulge in.
Athens lack of space also calls for small scale interventions, so the i-hotel is minimal in scale. All is small in scale in the i-hotel, because more intimacy is needed in close proximity with the intensity and exposure of the city life itself. The interior spaces are luxurius and our experience through the spaces intricate. There is no need to meet anyone unless we choose to. We would like the visitor to quickly feel comfortable and familiar inside the hotel. The hotel is not open to the public, it is only for its customers.
Climbing plants and vegetation grow around the i-hotel to form two hanging garden walls facing the building bare sides of the buildings around.
The city lacks green so green grows on the i-hotel, like plants fall out of the Athenian balconies looking like hanging gardens.
Programme: SLEEP-MEET-VIEW Condition: visible-14 small suites-roof lobby/reception/lounge-city views-hanging gardens-street lobby hangout/passage. INDULGE-CONSUME Condition: invisible-shops/boutiques-contemporary art-body&soul treatments-gourmet delicacies-audiovisual-room service
Featured in: “Invisible Hotel Architecture Exhibition”, The Tourism Report, K. Daphni, issue 19, 02/03/2005.”Exhibition Invisible Hotel”, Ellinikes Kataskeves, M. Kalapanida, issue 95, March 2005. / “Invisible Hotel”, d.mag, issue 24,, F. Sakalis, April 2005.”What’s after the boutigue Hotel”, A10, issue 2, March-April 2005. / “Hotel Enterprises”, Maison & Decoration, D. Rigopoulos, avant premier, N0. 34, 27/03/2005.”Invisible Hotel”, Athens Voice, issue 76, M. Filipidis, 14/02/2005. “Invisible Hotel”, Ottagono, April 2005.”10 Proposals for the Hotels of the Future”, Travel Times, The Magazine of Greek Tourism and Real Estate, issue 19, 2005.
(i) hotel
Private invitation for new hotel concepts. Location: Athens Category: ’boutique’ hotel, i – hotel 2005. Design by invitation to participate in The Invisible Hotel exhibition Organizers: CARTECO / Diathlasis. Curator: Memos Philippides, Shown at DESTE Foundation, April 2005.