Old Carpet Factory

Old Carpet Factory

Former name	Tsamados Residence
Established	18th century
Location	Hydra Greece
Type	Private Residence
Owner	Colloredo-Mansfeld
Website	www.oldcarpetfactory.com

The Old Carpet Factory (Colloredo-Mansfeld Residence) is a historical house located in Hydra island, Greece. It was originally built for the prominent Tsamados family in the late 18th century. It has gone through many renovations and has served as a residence, as well as previously being used as an industrial school, a factory and a painting studio. The lower part of the house is now used as a recording studio.

History

The family of Greek naval officer Anastasios Tsamados first built and occupied the home in the late 18th century. Its large size and ornamental architecture stand out from the more traditional homes from this period on Hydra Island, which feature lime-washed stone construction, narrow rectangular spaces, and plain roof tiles without ornament. In contrast, the Tsamados' mansion was built with open interiors, very high ceilings treated with carved wood, door casings, stone arches, geometrical designs, an open terrace overlooking the harbor, and a walled private garden. These features established it among the manors of wealthy Hydriot shipowners and captains of that era. ^{[1] [2]}

The house was later donated to the church and repurposed as a working weaving school. It produced textiles and carpets and was therefore known locally as the "Old Carpet Factory". ^[2]

The home's artistic period began in the 1950s when American sculptor John La Farge bought it and renovated it. He removed parts of the deteriorated roof and glazed the retaining arch to create a large window, opening into a private courtyard. La Farge's arch, together with three large elegant windows, ^[2] became the signature architectural feature of the house. In 1976, painter Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld purchased the house. ^[3] In 2015, the current owner, Stephan Colloredo-Mansfeld, turned the lower part of the house into a recording studio, incorporating the acoustics of high ceilings and water cisterns. ^[4]

Current use

From the late 20th century onward, the house became an unofficial art residency by hosting and supporting projects of artists such as Sebastien Tellier, Ariel Kalma, Margherita Chiarva, and Gorkem Sen, the inventor of yaybahar. ^[5]

Currently, the facility houses both a music recording studio and a temporary residence for up to twelve people.

John La Farge's arch constructed in the 1950s featuring Giorgios Vogiatzakis' artwork "Curcuma Sun and Moon," 2016.

In popular culture

A pulp-noir novel "De les kouventa / Δε λες κουβέντα" (“Athens Undocumented”) by French-Greek writer Makis Malafekas describes the events at the Old Carpet Factory house with one of the centre characters drawn from Stephan Colloredo-Mansfeld. ^{[6] [7]}

"Power of Power" EP by Mind Gamers was partially composed and recorded at the Old Carpet studio with the promotional video featuring the residence and Hydra island. ^{[8] [9]}

Notable owners

• Anastasios Tsamados, a Greek admiral of the Greek War of Independence.
• John La Farge, sculptor, and architect.
• Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld, artist and a member of the Czech-Austrian aristocratic Colloredo-Mannsfeld family.
• Stephan Colloredo-Mansfeld, music producer.

References

1. Michaelides, Constantine (1967). Hydra : A Greek Island Town, Its Growth and Forms. USA: University of Chicago Press. pp. 61–64. ISBN   0226522776.
2. Loudon, Michael (2018). Hydra. An Island and Its Architecture. Wien. pp. 186–190. ISBN   9783851611946.
3. "Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld: Dokud dýchám, cestuji". E15.cz. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
4. Howard, Rachel. "The best Greek islands to visit in 2020". CN Traveller. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
5. "Fragments of Perfect Anarchy: the story of an 18th century Hydra home cum music studio". Athens Insider. 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
6. Malafekas, Makis (2018). De les kouventa / Δε λες κουβέντα. Greece: Melani. ISBN   978-9605911249.
7. "Η σκοτεινιά που γίνεται παγίδα". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). Retrieved 2020-10-06.
8. "Mind Gamers – Power Of Power". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
9. "Mind Gamers present Power of Power". RUSSH. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2020-10-06.