Our Soul

Athens was and remained for long time an industrious city of predominately small shops producing a wide range of consumer goods (from necessities to luxuries). In the early 1900s when the streets Ermou, Aiolou, and Athinas were opened, the industrial zone was reconstituted upon these new axes. Shops and workshops developed mainly from east to west, with Ermou street as the central axis, eventually occupying the entire area between Monastiraki and the western edge of Adrianou street, the neighbourhood of Psyrri and the triangle bounded by Ermou - Athinas - Evripidou streets (today’s shopping centre).

The industrial zone northwards and eastwards was constrained by the "upscale" areas of Omonoia and Syntagma respectively. Consequently, the west side of the city was the only possible outlet for the industrial zone with the Aghion Asomaton square serving as the terminus for carriages and all kinds of land transport arriving with ever increasing frequency from Piraeus; the installation of the railway station here in 1869 further burdened the node with the activities of loading and unloading thus the Thisio are becoming the 1900 Athens' logistics hub.

The entire area was filled with facilities serving transport needs: the older pack-saddle-makers, fodder-chandlers etc. and the newer carriage-makers’, carpenters’ and metal workshops. It was these carriage-makers’ workshops that pioneered the expansion of the industrial zone to the west.

Read more at the “100+ years old building [The story]”

The building, located in the corner of Asomaton and Tournavitou streets, was initially constructed in the late 1800s to early 1900s with the precise date being difficult to pinpoint. Initially the ground floor was developed as a horse carriage wheels repair shops, in line with the neighborhood activity, to facilitate the need as a logistics center. Note that traders would load their merchandise in the Thisio train station for it to be transported to the Piraeus port or pick up merchandise to transfer elsewhere.

Later on, around 1930, as the traders also needed a place to sleep, the owners expanded the building though construction of the upper levels which were used as an early type of hotel, offering accommodation to the tradesmen.

Around the 1970s the building was abandoned and has stayed vacant until we undertook its transformation.

Read more at “The transformation; [The story]”

The building was transformed in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Culture. The architectural study has been based in identifying, respecting and highlighting, as much as possible, the existing elements that compose the history of the building.

This mosaic of intangible cultural heritage, contained in this listed building, as reflected in its interior partitions and subsequent intervention phases, as a characteristic Athenian house in Thision composes the story of the transformation.

Philip Tsiaras: ‘The Greek Warhol’ Interview in ART PLUGGED

Lee Sharrock spoke to Greek-American artist Philip Tsiaras, whose inaugural UK retrospective of ‘The Superdot’ recently opened at Gallery 8 in Mayfair, presented by Varvara Roza Galleries (London) and The Blender Gallery (Athens). The solo exhibition at Gallery 8 covers 35 years of a pictorial exploration of the Dot, and is accompanied by a new 200-page book ‘Philip Tsiaras: THE SUPERDOT’, published by Key Books.

On display are eye-catching portraits of Greek, American and British icons from the fields of Royalty, music, film and art including; Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dali, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, The Queen, Prince Philip, Aristotle Onassis, Princess Diana and Jim Morrison. Also featured are Tsiaras’s ‘Crystal Guns’, glass sculptures hand-made by the artist in Murano over the past decade; paintings from his seminal ‘Circle of Life’ series; and his figurative ‘Horses’ works, which the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City purchased for their collection as early as I983.

Philip Tsiaras ‘The Superdot’ is on at Gallery 8, 8 Duke Street, St. James’s, London until 7th December:

Sharrock conversed with Tsiaras at the gallery about the dual influences of American Pop Art and Greco-Roman art on his artistic practice, and discussed how an early encounter in 80s New York City with Warhol had a lasting effect on Tsiaras’s oeuvre, leading to a prolific career as ‘The Greek Warhol’.

'I am a Modern Greek which means I carry the weight and the joy of my ancestors in my genes. Which also means I can cherry pick aspects from my cultural identity and integrate it into a modern interpretation'
Philip Tsiaras

Read the full interview at https://tsiaras.com/philip-tsiaras-the-greek-warhol-interview-artplugged/

2022 KAYAK Travel Award!

We are excited to let you know that Asomaton's listing on KAYAK has generated 948 reviews from travelers in 2022, from which it has scored 9.1/10 - ranking it one of the highly rated hotels in Greece and a recipient of a 2022 KAYAK Travel Award.

Museums in Central Athens

Psirri can take the urban jungle experience to delirious heights, inviting a thousand little discoveries and as many opportunities for living it up after hours but, how could you forget that you are almost in the shadow of the Acropolis and the cradle of the starting point of Western civilization?

Athens' Street Art

“If you want to get to know a city, look at its walls. Athens might be a mess but there is creativity.” So says one of the best-known Athenian street artists, the elusive INO. The artist, who actually hails from Piraeus, knows of what he speaks as his intriguing murals have graced walls in several neighborhoods of the capital, including Psirri which is home to some of the most vibrant and dynamic street art in the whole of Athens.

Diving into Psirri

Not to be unduly nautical about it, but plunging into Psirri is like a deep dive into a different kind of Athens than you probably new existed. Sure, you knew about the ancient ruins and maybe trendy Kolonaki, but Psirri is home to scruffy cultural verve all its own—and you’re a part of it for as long as you’re here. This is a compact and largely self-contained, thoroughly urban universe where hipster cafés and bars collide with antique shops full to bursting with quirky merchandise, vintage record stores and busy craftsmens’ shops than you could ever take in on a single walk.

Psyrri-ously Cool Drinking & Dining

Restaurants, cafés, bars…in Psirri, you are truly spoiled for choice. Oineas taverna is like a quick trip to the Greek islands and it’s literally opposite the entrance of 18 Micon Street. If you have a hankering for amazing Italian food while you’re in Athens—it happens!—you must book a table at Cosa Nostra, on Agias Theklas 3. Keep kosher?

In case Asomaton is fully booked for the dates you are searching or you have enjoyed our hospitality in the past and you may wish to experience another property you may wish to check out the websites of our other properties offering exceptional hospitality standards, similar to Asomaton.

18 Micon Str

A hospitality destination in the heart of Athens. Drawing inspiration from the namesake of our street, our buildings past industrial life, and Psiri’s monumental transformation to a burgeoning hub of creativity, we have turned a historic workshop into a unique destination. There are more stories in our walls and in our streets than we can count - and it’s this rich and varied past that guides everything we do. Each room has been thoughtfully and individually designed using the 3elements of construction; cement, wood, and brick. A departure from standard indistinguishable rooms, where each element battles for dominance before achieving an ideal balance in our common areas, results in rooms with distinctive identities. Irrespectively the room you'll stay, we can assure you that our philosophy of Athenian Hospitality Redesigned will mean that your stay with us will be a genuine and memorable experience. Our focus has never been about chasing profit, rather we aim to maximize quality and experience in all we do which means your stay with us will never be ordinary or over-priced.

ATHENS4

Athens4, located in the heart of Athens, is a conception of its surroundings, influenced by its humble beginnings as a textile factory. We were inspired to pay tribute to Poliklitou St. by creating Athens4 using its former identity as a textile factory to guide our design. We chose to use a wide variety of unique textiles and wall coverings to combine the past and the present. Each level and each room are individually designed but perfectly complementary to one another. Our rooms were thoughtfully created to optimize space and comfort and enhanced by beautifully hand-crafted furnishings. Soft, luxurious linens and bed coverings promise a good night’s sleep and the Nespresso machine found in each room promises a good morning. At the ground level you will find our large common area where our fresh breakfast buffet is served every morning. Cozy couches and large tables offer you space to relax, read, work, and engage in conversation.

Article by Greek column

"Acropolis Wow: New Boutique Hotel in Athens Changes Everything"

Article by Travel Awaits

"Travel Awaits; Asomaton one of the 7 incredible Boutique Hotels in Athens, Greece"

Article by National Geographic

"Asomaton one of five chic new hotels in Athens, Greece as per National Geographic"

Athens. Our beloved city as complex and human as those who inhabit it. A place where every street and every corner has a story to tell. A place where beauty, inspiration, and depth exist alongside chaos, disorder and anarchy. A place where everything has a root and nothing is superficial. A place that will inspire you to feel, to think, and to reflect. A place where all are welcome.

Read more about OUR SOUL at the "Our Current thoughts [Blog]"

We are pet friendly. Contact us to talk about your requirements.