The Ellinikon, also known as Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, is an urban regeneration initiativeon the historic site of the former Ellinikon International Airport in Athens, Greece. It is the largest such project in the country offering a comprehensive mix of residential, commercial, and leisure facilities.
The development is led by Hellinikon, a subsidiary of LAMDA Development, and involves an estimated investment of €8bn ($8bn). It has a 25-year development period and is being undertaken in multiple phases, with phase one expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
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The Ellinikon is poised to significantly boost the Greek economy by creating 85,000 new jobs, contributing 2.4% to the domestic GDP [gross domestic product], and generating more than €14bn in state tax revenues. It is also expected to attract one million tourists a year.
Location of the Ellinikon
The Ellinikon is strategically located in southern Athens, and benefits from its proximity to central Athens, Piraeus Port, and Athens International Airport.
The site’s excellent transport links ensure easy access to key locations within a 20-minute drive to Athens City Centre (Acropolis), Athens railway station, Piraeus Port, and Rafina Port while the Athens International Airport is a 35-minute drive.
The project includes the development of the 1.3km Poseidonos Avenue Underpass, set for completion by 2025, which will improve traffic flow and pedestrian access to the seaside.
The Ellinikon project details
The Ellinikon will have a total area of 6.2 million square metres (66 million square feet). It will feature 600,000m² of green spaces, 6,200 acres (2,509ha) of urban living, a 1km landscaped public beach, 65 building zones, and 50km of scenic walkways and cycle tracks.
The development will include several office spaces, including an office tower, which will be the tallest commercial building in Greece. The mixed-use tower will seamlessly integrate leisure and retail amenities, a 200-room hotel, and top-tier A+ category office spaces that adhere to LEED and WELL standards. In addition, low-rise offices will offer a blend of leisure and professional spaces.
The residential facilities at the project include Little Athens, a vibrant new neighbourhood featuring modern residences and apartments. The area will include Park Raise, Pavilion Terraces, Promenade Heights, Atrium Gardens, Trinity Gardens, Cove Villas, and Cove Residences, as well as branded hotel residences.
The Riviera Tower, a 200m-high, 50-floor residential skyscraper, will offer biophilic design and LEED v4 BD+C Gold Level certification with more than 150 residences. The Public Works Department (PWD) buildings will serve associations catering to people with disabilities.
The Marina Hotel and Beach Hotel will provide luxury hospitality at the development while the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens will feature a casino, guest rooms, a rooftop terrace, and a conference centre.
The Ellinikon amenities and facilities
The project includes a variety of amenities such as parks, marinas, medical facilities, educational institutions, sports complexes, cultural venues, hospitality services, retail destinations, malls, and an integrated resort.
The Ellinikon Park will be the largest coastal park in the region featuring a cutting-edge sports complex, catering to a variety of sports such as soccer, swimming, tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball. The Health Park positioned strategically near the Commercial Hub and Ellinikon Park, will offer a premium health and wellness experience.
The Experience Park will connect people and nature, featuring 500 trees, 55,000 plants, and four plazas. The Athletic Precinct will replace the former National Youth Sports Centre of Agios Kosmas (EAKN) with a modern sports park.
The Athens Riviera will offer a revitalised waterfront with shopping facilities, 310 berths, and recreational amenities. The Riviera Galleria, Ellinikon Mall, and Vouliagmenis Mall Complex will provide luxurious shopping and entertainment experiences.
Smart technology at The Ellinikon
The Ellinikon will be a Smart City incorporating advanced technologies for efficient urban living, including smart irrigation, lighting, mobility, smart system for energy management, and waste sorting systems. The Smart Concierge app will centralise the digital and physical services of The Ellinikon in one place.
Smart Ellinikon will be integrated with advanced technologies such as IoT, AI analytics, 5G, and ultra-high-speed fibre-optic networks. The infrastructure includes smart sensors, advanced AI algorithms, underground networks, and more.
The Ellinikon will also offer public Wi-Fi, smart parking assistance, e-bike and scooter sharing schemes, and cutting-edge water management and irrigation IoT technologies.
Sustainability features
The Ellinikon will repurpose or reuse 100% of existing materials in construction projects. Additionally, all soil will undergo decontamination to allow for its reclamation and reuse.
The construction strategy includes the recovery and diversion of at least 75% of construction waste away from landfill sites.
Irrigation water needs for public parks will be entirely met through the use of reclaimed water, demonstrating a commitment to resource efficiency. The developments have been designed with resilience in mind, future-proofed against the potential impacts of changing climate conditions.
The project is designed to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, incorporating LEED certification for commercial and residential buildings and Smart City Principles.
Financing
LAMDA Development issued a €230m ($232m) Green Bond in July 2022 to support the development of low-carbon buildings and green infrastructure within the project.
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing €20m ($20m) in the green bond.
In 2019, EBRD invested €22.7m ($25m) in LAMDA’s equity issuance to support the project development.
Contractors involved
The Ellinikon’s development involves a host of contractors, including Foster + Partners as the lead master planner, SKAPE as landscape architect, and Hill International and Samaras & Associates as project management consultants.
Mace and Jacobs as joint venture partners were appointed as overall programme management and project management consultants for the four primary building projects within the scheme, namely Riviera Tower, Vouliagmenis Mall Complex, Riviera Galleria, and the mixed-use tower.
The planners and architects are Tombazis & Associates Architects, Urban Environmental Reformations, DECATHLON, Aedas, Aeter Architects, Bobotis+Bobotis Architects, Divercity Architects, and SER Architects.
RACE Consulting Engineers is the design management consultant while consulting engineers include ΤΕΚΕΜ, LDK Consultants, DENCO TRANSPORT ENGINEERS, HYDROMENT – ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, KANON Consulting, DOMI, National Technical University of Athens, and Hydroexigiantiki Consulting Engineers.
Environmental and sustainable development consulting engineers are Antipollution, Atelier Ten, Buro Happold, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Echmes, Enveco, Envirosys, Ernst & Young Hellas, IDOM, INNOVECO Engineers & Consultants, INTERGEO Environmental Technology, Macro Design Studio, PricewaterhouseCoopers, TEKMON, TUV AUSTRIA Hellas, and Zero Energy Building (ZEB).
Maritime engineering is supported by Rogan Associates and ΜΑRΝΕT. Geotechnical engineering and consulting partners include Edafomichaniki, National Observatory of Athens, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Geotopos, GEOTECH, and HΥΖ.
Other partners include SLM Services, Ergonomia, I.B. Vasis, TITAN Group, SALFO & Associates, Holcim, Sasaki, Brook Lane Capital, Kengo Kuma & Associates, and K-Studio.
