Ellinikon: A Pioneering Urban Development Project in Athens
Image: Courtesy of LAMDA Development
(eap) Urban gardens and parks in large cities are not a new trend but are becoming increasingly popular today. Trees that provide shade, store carbon and increase biodiversity are more than welcome and necessary in cities. A pioneering urban development project is currently being implemented in Greece’s capital Athens with the “Ellinikon Project”. With over two million square meters and more than one million new trees and plants, Europe’s largest coastal experience park is to be created on the site of the historic Ellinikon airport and the coastline. Experience and entertainment offerings are to be harmoniously integrated into this development project and create a balanced urban mix.
The existing area of the park attracted over one million visitors in less than a year. There are water mazes, Zen gardens, various playgrounds and outdoor fitness facilities to discover, as well as the Ellinikon Experience Center. There, visitors can discover the vision of the Ellinikon Smart City. In an interactive exhibition, which is divided into five themed areas, interested parties can learn more about the key objectives and features of the urban development project. Once completed, the overall Ellinikon project – the complete urban renewal of the greater Ellinikon-Aghios Kosmas area – will be around three times the size of Monaco. The real estate company LAMDA Development and the London-based architecture firm Foster + Partners are involved in the project. The architectural firm doxiadis+ is responsible for the planning of the experience park. The estimated investment costs amount to around 8 billion euros. ■
