Ancient history is everywhere in Athens, Greece. One of the oldest cities in the world, occupied for thousands of years, marvels of antiquity are present throughout the capital city. There are incredible ruins with their trademark columns, some dating as far back as 1,200 B.C.E., dotting the city. There are also relics that the innovators of the ancient world left behind — the theatre, philosophy, democracy and the building blocks of Western civilization as we know it today.
While often synonymous with this distant past, a new city within a city is majestically rising from the derelict airport. First built in the 1930s and closing in 2001, the Athens International Airport stood unused for two decades but presented a unique opportunity to create something from scratch: The Ellinikon, a cutting-edge urban ecosystem offering a glimpse of the future of global development.
At 6.2 million square metres, The Ellinikon is Europe’s largest urban regeneration project, nestled in a prime location on the picturesque Athenian Riviera. Just 20 minutes from the heart of the city and connected by Metro stations and a tram line, the project is fronted by over three kilometres of shorefront on the sparkling Aegean Sea.
The Ellinikon will create a modern, sustainable 15-minute metropolis by combining the area’s incredible natural beauty and unique, inherent characteristics with smart-city principles. Its inspiration is drawn from the name Ellinikon, which means ‘the Greek’ or an ’embodiment of Greece’ and represents the country’s past, present and future.
The concept is to minimize society’s reliance on cars, with essential services, shops and even jobs a 15-minute bicycle ride or walk away – reducing car use, noise and pollution while promoting wellness and a healthy lifestyle balance. To achieve this, The Ellinikon maximizes space with residences, shopping, offices, hospitality, entertainment, parks and even health, educational and athletic facilities, all connected by 45 kilometres of walkways and bicycle paths, along with other green transportation options such as electric car infrastructure.
In keeping with its 15-minute-city ethos, the residents will have everything else they need at their fingertips. The Ellinikon’s retail elements will be integrated into the city’s infrastructure, providing a fully immersive experience unlike anything that currently exists in Greece or many other parts of the world.
Part of any sustainable development plan includes green space, and The Ellinikon has an abundance thanks to its remarkable centrepiece: the flagship 2-million-square-metre The Ellinikon Park to connect visitors and residents with nature. Designed by U.S.-based firm Sasaki, native trees and plants showcasing Greek biodiversity are being planted in what will be one of the largest coastal parks in the world. It will flow effortlessly into the new beach and 337-berth marina that can also accommodate super-yachts. Athens is currently 70 percent cement, and after The Ellinikon is completed, it will be 70 percent green, improving the whole microclimate and helping transform the city into a more pleasant and green environment.
The world’s leading partners have been handpicked to deliver this project, from consultants, architects, engineers and infrastructure experts to accountants and hotel providers. Each has been selected as best in class to help this project fulfil The Ellinkon’s potential and become a true benchmark for global urban development.
The new building designs are equally impressive, and each project offers a unique identity that seamlessly blends into the green location while celebrating Athenian heritage. The iconic Riviera Tower, designed by the globally renowned architect Foster + Partners, will become the tallest residential skyscraper in the Mediterranean with a lush, green spine running through the centre – and all its 170 residences have been pre-sold. The luxurious Cove Villas take in views of the water from their coastal setting created using beautiful natural materials, with the stunning Cove Residences a few minutes’ stroll away. The Little Athens neighbourhood is next to The Ellinikon Park and will offer a mix of low- and high-rise apartments, the tallest of which, Park Rise, is being designed by esteemed Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) as a reimagining of classical Greek columns.
The new shopping districts will include much more than your typical stores: The Ellinikon Mall, designed by Hong Kong-Singaporean-based firm Aedas, will also feature entertainment and dining, and the Riviera Galleria, by Kengo Kuma & Associates from Tokyo, will be a stunning haven of high-end designer boutiques, fine restaurants, upmarket bars as well as unforgettable cultural events and performances.
Visitors can choose between two luxury hotels on the prime seafront location, including the Mandarin Oriental. The Integrated Resort Complex and The Ellinikon Park Tower offer breathtaking views across The Ellinikon Park and the sea.
The Ellinikon’s landmark buildings will shape a new skyline for Athens and give it the character of a modern capital, a city that, along with its glorious past and great cultural heritage, has the key elements of a global metropolis that leads in architectural, aesthetic, environmental and social standards.
To connect past and present, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the 12-kilometre-long Cultural Path of The Ellinikon and take a walk through the rich history of the Ellinikon area, which includes 14 monuments of the classical and modern eras.
The Ellinikon’s first five-year phase of the project will be ready by early 2027. This encompasses all prime residential developments on the coastal front, including the Riviera Tower, the marina, a 1-kilometre-long public sandy beach and the much-anticipated Little Athens neighbourhood. Also set for completion in phase one are the two state-of-the-art shopping and entertainment retail destinations; two luxury hotels and branded residences; the mixed-use tower including another hotel and branded residences; a seafront Marina Club; sports, health and education facilities; the first in Europe Integrated Resort Complex and a large part of the 2-million-square-metre The Ellinikon Park, which will be the largest of its kind in Europe.
The world is striving towards a more sustainable future, and The Ellinikon has harnessed innovation at every stage, from the latest technologies in design to construction and operation, ensuring a transition toward a net-zero carbon footprint economy. Specific commitments include energy efficiency to minimize carbon emissions, embodied carbon reduction, water conservation strategies to restore natural systems, sustainable building materials and material reuse to preserve natural resources, climate adaptation and resilience to future-proof the development.
The Ellinikon will offer smart living — the convergence of human innovation and technological advancements creating the pinnacle of comfort, convenience and creativity. The project will have the most cutting-edge tech and seamless smart infrastructure at every turn, including sensors, solar panels and underground networks, quietly working behind the scenes to improve the daily experience — uninterrupted.
Unlike established areas that must be retrofitted with more advanced technological capabilities, The Ellinikon will be ready for a digitally assisted everyday life from the onset with a bespoke Internet of Things platform, apps that provide smart services to residents and visitors, AI-assisted personalized shopping, ultra-high-speed fibre optics and 5G network in all residences.
Smart resources include intuitive street lighting, integrated renewable energy, electric transportation and monitored water management. Sustainability has played a key role in all aspects of The Ellinikon: Municipal waste will be recycled into fertilizer and water for irrigation; sustainable building materials are being used for all construction and buildings (all pre-certified LEED Gold); and the coast is being reimagined with a beach along with the massive park that takes into account potential environmental changes. With one million new visitors expected each year, the project will also boost tourism and the economy in a way that will spread across the whole country.
Large-scale, forward-thinking projects like The Ellinikon offer a blueprint for urban planning and sustainability for other cities around the world. It is a model for how to incorporate fresh ideas and important advancements in a city as historic and storied as Athens. While there are thousands of years of history and cultural significance to preserve there, the city must also serve the new needs of the generations to come over the next few millennia.
Lamda Development is bringing to life a project that places Greece at the forefront of global smart living, sustainability and innovation. The Ellinikon is a symbol of a new era – a year-round destination by the sea. Do not miss the opportunity to become part of Athens’ new chapter.
To find out more about The Ellinikon, visit the website, email sales@lamdadev.com or call +30 2111 993 900