The Airbnb: An Unlikely Savior of the Polykatoikia

The dominant building typology in Athens, Greece is the stepped-back polykatoikia, or apartment building. Originally conceived as a collective action model, the residents of the polykatoikia would come together to make decisions since no one person or entity owned the building. Today, the polykatoikia is failing due to financial depression, inflation, and the war in Ukraine, which has drastically affected the energy economy in Greece. As each resident prioritizes their own financial situation, taking action together toward the betterment of the building has fallen away. The polykatoikias themselves have also fallen into disrepair and are in desperate need of consistent maintenance and accessibility updates. In addition, the excess of tourism with the overwhelming presence of Airbnbs has interrupted residential life. In neighborhoods like the politically active and radical Exarcheia, Airbnbs symbolize encroachment to the highest degree and are regarded by the residents with the utmost dislike, bordering hate.

This project aspires to bring back the original collective action of the polykatoikia by enacting new legislation. This legislation would allow residents to tax the Airbnbs with a fee for occupying the space within the building. The residents would form their own LLC and determine how to allocate the collected funds for the maintenance and improvement of the polykatoikia. Once sufficient funds are acquired, projects beyond maintenance may take shape in the form of built interventions within the building and its under-utilized roof. By being able to financially benefit from the Airbnbs, the residents renew their polykatoikia and become a collective once more.

Our drawings are split into two parts. The black linework drawings represent the old polykatoikia drawn from our observations in Athens, Greece, specifically, the neighborhood of Exarcheia. Our colorful drawings evoke the sense of revitalization that would come with the Airbnb tax as the polykatoikia is improved both at the building scale and the city block. The mirror drawing divided our presentation visually as the old polykatoikia looks at its reflection as a renewed building.