4Rooms: A Creative Playground in Kastellorizo, Greece.

4Rooms headquarters in Kastellorizo, Greece. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Superpoly for 4Rooms. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Superpoly for 4Rooms. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Superpoly for 4Rooms. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Superpoly for 4Rooms. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Superpoly for 4Rooms. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Studio Brynjar & Veronika. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Candy colours, eye-popping furniture and lights that look like modern spaceships—whether 4Rooms in Kastellorizo, Greece is a children’s playground or a work sanctuary is anybody’s guess. Well, not anybody’s. For the artists and creatives who work there, the place serves as the ultimate oasis for discussions and brainstorming sessions, unleashing a creative spirit hardly possible in white-walled offices.

The project, which was only recently unveiled, is the brainchild of Silvia Fiorucci, president and founder of La Società delle Api, an independent, non-profit organisation that serves as a multi-disciplinary collaborative platform for artists, architects, designers and thinkers.

What sets 4Rooms apart isn’t just its bright tones and avant-garde furniture. It’s also the story of its birth. Unlike the buildings that neighbour it, the project—focusing on four bedrooms in one of the association’s existing three-storey residences—came into being at the hands of design practices across the world, following an invitation from Silvia for collaboration.

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Julie Richoz. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Julie Richoz. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Julie Richoz. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Julie Richoz. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Julie Richoz. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Phanos Kyriacou. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Phanos Kyriacou. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Phanos Kyriacou. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

The project, curated by Annalisa Rosso, also nods to the island’s Mediterranean heritage. “For this reason, preference has been given to innovative projects that honour the characteristics of the location and its specific architecture, and which could be developed with a sustainable approach,” says Silvia.

The four winning design firms of the 4Rooms collaboration were Phanos Kyriacou of Cyprus, Julie Richoz of France, Studio Brynjar & Veronika of Iceland and Germany, and UND.studio of Germany, who were each handed one room for redesign.

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Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

Und Studio. Photo by DePasquale + Maffini.

What followed was a kaleidoscopic aesthetic that rivalled the coastline beyond. With a turquoise ceiling, silver accents, and glimmers of blue appearing like cresting currents, the living room holds a mirror to the ocean. But the sea vibes extend much beyond the common areas, manifesting as twinkling blue tiles in the kitchen and azure walls along the staircase. A purple door may be a hat-tip to a holidayer’s colourful hat, while a bright red room on the first floor is reminiscent, perhaps, of a child’s shiny bucket and spade.

Upstairs, the vibe is more muted, with wood and earth tones summoning patrons to slow down and pause. With elements that are halfway between fun and function, there’s no saying when work ends and play begins.

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[Images courtesy of La Società delle Api. Photography by DePasquale + Maffini.]