Greek capital Athens will look incredibly different in the near future. The Ellinikon project will show what is possible with urban regeneration when there is a focus on the community, sustainability, and connectivity. Let’s have a closer look, including exploring some of the residential and commercial architecture elements.

A huge area

The most notable thing here is this isn’t the regeneration of a small piece of a city; it is an €8bn project covering a massive 6.2 million square metres.

Almost a third of the site will be a new park, earning the title of the largest coastal park in Europe. It will be the green heart of the new neighbourhood, providing a wonderful community asset while serving key ecological functions. It’ll be a beautiful celebration of the area, featuring thousands of plants and trees native to the Mediterranean. The design also has innovative solutions for water management to make it more sustainable. Finally, it will feature reclaimed materials to hark back to the site’s history as an airport.

The project will feature a number of new iconic buildings too. One of them is Riviera Tower. The biophilic skyscraper will be 200 metres tall. This will make it the tallest structure in Athens, and also the first green high rise. It’ll have 200 new apartments. The design also celebrates sustainability and greenery.

Commercial elements

The Ellinikon Mall will be the headline piece of commercial architecture in the area. It will become one of the largest retail and entertainment destinations in the South of Europe. Impressively, the mall will offer shopping, leisure and workspace, so it will be a huge mixed use development.

Sport lovers will have plenty of choice with the Ellinikon Sports Park. It is replacing the National Youth Sports Centre. The new state of the art multi-sport facility will feature tennis courts, football pitches, an aquatics centre, and much more. It will be perfect for every level, including professional athletes.

Accessibility

Ellinikon also sets a fantastic standard for accessibility. The designs aim to make the area inclusive. For example, there is a dedicated facility for people with disabilities. It ensures they can be active members of the community. Key pieces of infrastructure such as an underpass ensure connectivity too.

What to expect?

Work is underway in various areas of the site. Some new buildings are finished, and others have broken ground. The expectation is we will see more key milestones next year and then more in 2026.

Talk to us about commercial architecture

The Ellinikon project is a really incredible example of what is possible when people come together to design a smart city. It can lead to urban spots that are dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable. All of these factors are vital to creating modern cities that work for people and the environment.

Coffey Architects can take massive inspiration from projects like this. It can elevate our own designs for residential properties, commercial architecture, and green spaces. So, if you have a project in mind and would like some help, feel free to speak to us.