Short term rental accommodation around the world has undergone such spectacular innovations, that it’s almost impossible not to stop and back down for a bit, wondering whether humanity is getting more than it deserves. A clock tower next to St Pancreas train station in London turned into a luxurious flat, castles around Ireland, a cottage close to geyser in Iceland, a cube house in Amsterdam, a river boat on the Sienna next to Eiffel Tower and a 600 year old fort in Utar-Pradesh – all of these unusual abodes have become affordable to regular people (or at least those considered regular in the western world). This trend of extravagance has caught up in the Balkans as well. For example, you can rent a proper little lighthouse on a small secluded island in the Adriatic via AirBnB, while, owing to our own humble efforts, a proper luxurious mansion in Belgrade’s Beverly Hills (Dedinje) became available to public.
A castle in Ireland, available for short term rent via AirBnB
Looking at these truly exotic abodes, Belgrade apartments seem a bit prosaic. The unwritten norms of furnishing short term rentals in Belgrade are applied almost uniformly, and most apartments have an appearance that fits into respective average price ranges. Some apartments are a tad bit more luxurious, or spacious, or equipped with an amenity that stands out (such as a sauna or a Jacuzzi bathtub), but the majority of hosts prefer not to experiment with-tried-and-tested recipes. As more and more people open their doors to guests, however, some very eccentric tastes in interior design have emerged. The apartments in question have an array of characteristics that, in comparison with average, may be referred to as statistical outliers. The structural and design peculiarities in these apartments abound to an extent which is almost impossible to imitate. They are, in a word, incomparable.
If there is anything these apartments share, it’s the aesthetics that circumvents the current trends in interior design. They certainly don’t lack authenticity, and they all have a local (albeit alternative) feel about them. There is an air of unbridled creativity surrounding both amateur and professional endeavors among them. The other, conditionally speaking, common trait is an almost unanimous ill-disposition of domestic guests towards them. It may also happen they elude the means of those who would enjoy them, but unless other service providers find a use for them, their fate is likely to be the one of Half Cuban Eights. This way, we are trying to make. Last (and least common) thing about them, is the smart use of materials which most people associate with junkyards. Or as political correctness would name it, astounding environmental awareness put in the service of interior design.
Well, if you have entertained a thought of finding atypical apartment accommodation in Belgrade, here come our suggestions of different. These are, in our humble opinion, the most unusual apartments in Belgrade:
7. AMIGO
AMIGO is a very peculiar apartment. Its unusually shaped base is concealed with innovative design solutions and almost ingenious utilization of space. It has walk-in closets, beautiful drapes, a collection of decorative statuettes and a rather bold colour combination. From a certain angle it resembles an art gallery, which flirts with the aesthetic ideals of Indian subcontinent and is pretty sure to overwhelm you with visual stimuli. At the same time it offers all the necessary amenities for a comfortable short term stay. When you add to this pile a myriad of design stickers, it’s really hard not to catch the lively colourful atmosphere of this truly unique interior.
6.LEON
LEON is best described with a parable of the elephant and six blind men. If you’d land in all of its rooms in a consecutive manner, it’s unlikely that you’d guess they’re part of the same thing. It carries the traits of all interior design trends from the past 30 odd years, and a rather peculiar contrast of contemporary furniture and slightly archaic structure.
5. CRIB
CRIB is a large, unorthodox and almost hostel-like apartment in Belgrade with far more amenities than meets the eye. Eighty square meters of floor area are shared by two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a walk-through living room and the kitchenette with a funny little dining area. The most eccentric features of CRIB are to do with its environmental awareness. The beds are placed on wooden cargo pallets, and the complete sitting set is made out of beer crates. The dining area resembles a rural kafana with accompanying checkered tablecloths. The whole flat is embellished with a multitude of unusual decorations varying from ancient Egyptian motifs to local ethnic heritage. The aesthetical hodgepodge is masked by an unusually high level of convenience, at least when Belgrade’s short term rentals are in question. In addition to the unprecedented personal hygiene space the apartment also has its own parking spot in the building’s garage.
4.BELL
BELL takes creativity to a whole other level. The elements used for furnishing are non-standard to say the least. The amazing carpentry experiment which involved a huge entrance door being turned into a table and a massive wooden chair turned upside down to hold a kitchen sink really isn’t something you get to see every day. Neither is the ladder turned into a coat rack, or photos of old Belgrade in the bathroom. Add to that the shabby chic rustic paint and you will get BELL. The non-conformist aesthetic is further enhanced by its unusually tall ceilings as the building dates back to 20th century.
3.POLAR
POLAR is yet another design experiment in practice and it might be appealing to those with artistic sentiments. It’s actually a miniature studio apartment in which an adept game of mirrors and lights augments the feeling of space. Eclectic in style, with 1920s lampshades, wicker baskets and wicker chests instead of wardrobes, a Norwegian bathroom, and pieces of antique furniture it really appeals to those with artsy preferences. Its subtle eccentricities are parried by two features unequivocally sought by all guests: a central location and a parking spot.
2.SHIP
SHIP is by far the most contemporary of apartments labeled as unusual in this list, and its amenities borderline luxurious. The contrast of its outward appearance and the inside is what makes it one of the most unusual apartments in Belgrade. A studio apartment is packed on a small floor area, but has extraordinarily tall ceilings and a very clever use of galleries. The mixture of styles has been reduced to a sensually acceptable norms and the commodities are numerous.
1.BAROQUE
Now if there is a short term rental in Belgrade that could really stand tall next to those extravagant abodes from the beginning of the text, it is most definitely BAROQUE. Its furnishings are a proper little museum, with its elegance and lavish furnishings which belong to nobler times of yore. The desk, the cabinets, the beds, the chests, the crystal chandeliers – they’re all alive with flamboyant ornamentation which may keep you gazing at them for hours, admiring the crafty hands that made it to being and the l’art pour l’art-ism present in literally every square inch of the flat.
BAROQUE is, by far the most extraordinary and extravagant interior we have encountered.
And that’s it. If you’ve stumbled upon a more unusual interior in Belgrade other than those we have presented here, be so kind to leave us a comment. We will gladly put them into the list. Till then, these are the most unusual apartments in Belgrade.