Monsieur Didot comprises four rooms and two suites in the heart of Athens, Greece
When local firm BaBatchas Design Studio joined the project to revive a former residence in the Kolonaki neighborhood in Athens, Greece into a boutique hotel, they looked no further than its already-established name: Monsieur Didot, named after the late French printer and engraver Firmin Didot. This gave cofounders and interior architects Chrysi Makri and Nefeli Gkyzi the narrative they needed to develop the overall design concept. “We eagerly faced the challenge of dressing up Monsieur Didot,” says Makri, “giving him back his old glory and propping him up so he could offer an unprecedented, refined hospitality experience to tourists and art lovers from around the world.”
Set within a neoclassical residence that was constructed in 1880, the hotel boasts a material palette that addresses the city’s vernacular with natural stone, plaster featuring traditional techniques, oak floors, and furniture, as well as clay artifacts and accessories. The interiors are neutral yet bright, forming a contemporary feel. “The design follows the narration of the building’s life through the years,” explains Gkyzi. “Forgotten ‘skins’ were revealed behind existing walls, which gave the interiors a monumental direction, while the furniture enhanced the outcome as it binds perfectly in a timeless manner.” Determined to respect the structure’s architectural roots, the designers’ made as few altercations to its core as possible; however, they reimagined its layout in order to smoothly transition the space from a residence to a hotel.
Monsieur Didot’s rooftop hosts an open air terrace
Makri and Gkyzi ensured that the legacies of both Didot and Kolonaki, which is known as a meeting ground for writers and literary minds, shine through the property. Large bookcases displaying collectible and modern editions were installed and the names of Monsieur Didot’s six accommodations—four rooms and two suites—stem from poetry and prose. “Monsieur Didot expresses a personalized experience, where one finds a luxury hospitality service inside a monumental living space,” Gkyzi says.
A winding staircase punctuates the entrance; the Tale suite is located on the ground floor
A neutral yet bright aesthetic pervades the property, including in the Ballad double room
The Novel suite on the ground floor spans 431 square feet
