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Passer Domesticus: 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece

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Ideas to StealIssue 5 — Modern Eclectic

Passer Domesticus: 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece

February 1, 2018

Lately I’ve been poring over Passer Domesticus, a sculptural, somewhat peculiar space in Thessaloniki, Greece, by local 157 + 173 Designers. Housed in a 1924 multilevel storefront (built after a fire destroyed much of the city in 1917; formerly a trade fabric shop, then a fishing supply merchant), the space is now available for “short-term habitation and city break experiences.” (The name, from the Latin, refers to the kind of sparrows common in the Mediterranean: “Passer Domesticus becomes a little nest inside the urban environment to host all romantic urban nomads,” the designers explain.)

The space seems to reveal more each time I look at it: a terracotta sink; architectural bits and pieces, such as found cobblestones repurposed as a stoop; an artful storage bed; a squash as sculpture in the kitchen. Despite being only 170 square feet on some levels, it feels spacious; despite having two stories, a closer look reveals that, like an Escher drawing, it somehow has five levels. Here are 12 design ideas to steal.

N.B.: For more information on renting Passer Domesticus (also used for “exclusive dinners, private small music concerts, small exhibitions, and guided historic retrospectives”), see Airbnb and Booking.com.

Photography courtesy of 157 + 173 Designers.

1. Go green.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece The space is in a traditional building with Byzantine style windows framed by small columns. Despite a mostly neutral color palette, the shop has elements of green throughout, from the trim around the front storefront to a vintage painted ladder to a slab of green marble in the kitchen. (Green is in: It&#8\2\17;s one of our \18 Design Trends for \20\18.) Note the custom wood ledges that transform a stoop into someplace to sit, and the window shades, for privacy.
Above: The space is in a traditional building with Byzantine-style windows framed by small columns. Despite a mostly neutral color palette, the shop has elements of green throughout, from the trim around the front storefront to a vintage painted ladder to a slab of green marble in the kitchen. (Green is in: It’s one of our 18 Design Trends for 2018.) Note the custom wood ledges that transform a stoop into someplace to sit, and the window shades, for privacy.

2. Leave it be.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece In the main kitchen and dining area at street level, the designers painted the walls and cement floor white. This sets into stark relief the found and sculptural elements inside, as well as places where the designers left the &#8\2\20;original faded texturing on the walls&#8\2\2\1; (like the window frame, shown here, with touches of green). &#8\2\20;It&#8\2\17;s a reminder of the space&#8\2\17;s past chroma, which eventually becomes the only color on the walls.&#8\2\2\1; Of note: a grid of cobblestones repurposed as an anchor for the ladder.
Above: In the main kitchen and dining area at street level, the designers painted the walls and cement floor white. This sets into stark relief the found and sculptural elements inside, as well as places where the designers left the “original faded texturing on the walls” (like the window frame, shown here, with touches of green). “It’s a reminder of the space’s past chroma, which eventually becomes the only color on the walls.” Of note: a grid of cobblestones repurposed as an anchor for the ladder.

3. Use natural tones.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece The space ties together the &#8\2\20;multicultural language&#8\2\2\1; of the building&#8\2\17;s history, including Byzantine, neoclassical, and folk styles, the designers say. But the distinct elements—an antique wooden chair affixed with a lamp, a terracotta sink, custom MDF cabinets—are tied together by a common palette: neutral earth tones of wood, pale brown, and rust. (Note the kitchen tools, and a dried gourd, that hang above the sink.)
Above: The space ties together the “multicultural language” of the building’s history, including Byzantine, neoclassical, and folk styles, the designers say. But the distinct elements—an antique wooden chair affixed with a lamp, a terracotta sink, custom MDF cabinets—are tied together by a common palette: neutral earth tones of wood, pale brown, and rust. (Note the kitchen tools, and a dried gourd, that hang above the sink.)

4. Embrace idiosyncrasy.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece The small kitchen has simple bones, like fiberboard cabinetry and exposed white pipes that hold the sink. But the vintage painted ladder (which acts as a sort of &#8\2\20;wall&#8\2\2\1; for the kitchen) and a piece of green veined marble, plus shelves stacked high with mix and match ceramics, add an element of character.
Above: The small kitchen has simple bones, like fiberboard cabinetry and exposed white pipes that hold the sink. But the vintage painted ladder (which acts as a sort of “wall” for the kitchen) and a piece of green-veined marble, plus shelves stacked high with mix-and-match ceramics, add an element of character.

5. Go small-scale.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Small scale furniture keeps the space feeling open, as shown here, in the mix and match dining area. A petite rug emphasizes the empty floor space and keeps the room feeling sparse.
Above: Small-scale furniture keeps the space feeling open, as shown here, in the mix-and-match dining area. A petite rug emphasizes the empty floor space and keeps the room feeling sparse.

6. Make use of unused corners.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece On the other side of the front door, the designers fitted a sharply angled corner with a built in plywood couch, complete with storage. Note how the fuse boxes are allowed to be part of the design.
Above: On the other side of the front door, the designers fitted a sharply angled corner with a built-in plywood couch, complete with storage. Note how the fuse boxes are allowed to be part of the design.

7. Create a sculptural vanity.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece The cement staircase behind the kitchen sink leads downstairs, to the bath, where a recessed vanity, built into an archway, evokes the Cycladic style of ancient Greece, with its whitewashed, curved forms. Rust colored brick around the bath and pale pink marble evoke an Ottoman market nearby.
Above: The cement staircase behind the kitchen sink leads downstairs, to the bath, where a recessed vanity, built into an archway, evokes the Cycladic style of ancient Greece, with its whitewashed, curved forms. Rust-colored brick around the bath and pale pink marble evoke an Ottoman market nearby.

8. Transform a ledge into an altar.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece A window well over the bath is transformed into an opportunity for display with &#8\2\20;a private garden of plants and stones&#8\2\2\1; plus natural light.
Above: A window well over the bath is transformed into an opportunity for display with “a private garden of plants and stones” plus natural light.
Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece On the concrete stairs leading back to street level, a small ledge becomes a place for display. Photograph courtesy of Airbnb.
Above: On the concrete stairs leading back to street level, a small ledge becomes a place for display. Photograph courtesy of Airbnb.

9. Build in levels.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Back on the first floor, the designers took advantage of the lofty ceilings by creating a clever in between level with a sturdy fisherman&#8\2\17;s net that references the building&#8\2\17;s history as a fishing shop. &#8\2\20;It offers the space a comfortable area of resting, while becoming an architectural element,&#8\2\2\1; they say.
Above: Back on the first floor, the designers took advantage of the lofty ceilings by creating a clever in-between level with a sturdy fisherman’s net that references the building’s history as a fishing shop. “It offers the space a comfortable area of resting, while becoming an architectural element,” they say.
Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Looking down.
Above: Looking down.

10. Enlist a storage bed.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Up a set of pale green stairs is the bedroom, where the designers painted the original wide plank floors white. A plywood platform bed with generous under bed storage keeps necessities tucked away and, when set at an angle, becomes a sculptural element in itself.
Above: Up a set of pale green stairs is the bedroom, where the designers painted the original wide-plank floors white. A plywood platform bed with generous under-bed storage keeps necessities tucked away and, when set at an angle, becomes a sculptural element in itself.

11. Create an ad-hoc closet.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Yet another tiny built in level: A small plywood step leads to a rudimentary closet with two exposed pipes and hangers. A mirror becomes an architectural element when leaned against the wall.
Above: Yet another tiny built-in level: A small plywood step leads to a rudimentary closet with two exposed pipes and hangers. A mirror becomes an architectural element when leaned against the wall.

12. Rethink ladders.

Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece The designers used vintage ladders throughout as a space saving measure. Here, a well worn ladder, found on site, leads to the building&#8\2\17;s flat roof and doubles as a place to drape clothing.
Above: The designers used vintage ladders throughout as a space-saving measure. Here, a well-worn ladder, found on-site, leads to the building’s flat roof and doubles as a place to drape clothing.
Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece Blink and you&#8\2\17;ll miss it: the shop&#8\2\17;s subtle sign.
Above: Blink and you’ll miss it: the shop’s subtle sign.
Passer Domesticus 12 Ideas to Steal from an Idiosyncratic Urban Getaway in Greece How they did it: the plans.
Above: How they did it: the plans.

For more from 157 + 173 Designers, see Texture and Gloss: 10 Ideas to Steal from a Hip London Cafe.

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