The rise of Airbnb has shown the potential in using residential spaces for commercial occupants, so it comes as little surprise that firms like Mamastudio are taking it one step further with the creation of the ‘Autor Rooms’ Boutique Hotel. Working with architect Mateusz Baumiller, the Warsaw-based agency has remodeled a collection of historic Warsaw apartments to act as a showcase for Polish artists and designers while also doubling as a hotel. It ingeniously gives residents a sense of the city’s living culture while simultaneously embracing the celebrated architecture of another era. Each of the bedrooms is designed to look different, a result of the vast range of displayed works that come out of Warsaw, but remains tied together thanks to a few common elements. There is a relaxed attitude to the living situation, as guests are welcome to browse an extensive library and vinyl record collection, that parlays the appeal of an Airbnb or hostel with the dignity of a real hotel, but even more novel is the fact that much of the art and furniture is up for sale. These works were custom-designed by a variety of Polish artists, and really help one feel they are discovering the true treasures of a lived in home. The Autor Rooms Boutique Hotel is a welcome change from the usual struggle between overpriced yet culturally sterile hotels and cheap yet poorly maintained hostels, with the added benefit of giving an Airbnb feel without having to spend the vacation sleeping on a stranger’s futon.
