The Ellinikon: Greece is realizing the largest urban development project in Europe
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Over the next few years, hotels, apartments, shopping centers, offices, leisure facilities, a casino and the largest park in the Greek capital are to be built on an area of 6.2 square kilometers. With an investment volume of eight billion euros, Ellinikon is the largest urban development project in Europe.
The project is indeed of great symbolic and economic importance for the country. It is intended to signal that Greece is leaving the ten-year financial crisis and recession behind. Ellinikon symbolizes the beginning of a new era.
Within just a few years, Greece has developed from a hopeless problem case into Europe’s model student. Investors, analysts, and business media are cheering the economic development of the last few years. Rating agencies have continuously upgraded the country’s creditworthiness and assume that the upswing will accelerate. In a recent analysis, Barclays Bank even predicted an imminent “third mega cycle” for Greece, a phase of long-lasting economic growth after the two major boom phases in recent Greek history in the 1950s and 1960s and in the first decade of the 20th century.
In this respect, it probably comes as no surprise that this construction project represents the economic upswing and the hopes of the Greeks for a positive future like no other. The project is planned as a multi-dimensional platform. It will trigger significant investment across sectors, spanning from tourism to culture; sports and entertainment; corporate, entrepreneurial, and innovative commercial property. During construction, 10,000 people will find employment here. After completion, 80,000 new jobs will be created.
Let’s have a close look at the project details. The Ellinikon is situated between Mount Hymettus and the beaches of the Athenian Riviera and surrounded by the buzz of metropolitan Athens, making the project utterly unique in terms of position, scale, and potential.
As mentioned above, for the realization of this master development the 6,200,000 sqm of Athens’ former international airport site will be transformed into a unique ecosystem comprising several distinct communities — each with its own character. The southern edge of The Ellinikon site is characterized by 3.5 km of coastline, which will be upgraded and enhanced for luxury living and public enjoyment. Whereas in the center of it all lies the 2,000,000 sqm The Ellinikon Park — the largest coastal park in Europe and a true landmark of 21st-Century Greece. The natural setting of The Ellinikon presents a unique opportunity to build a new city based on the principles of sustainability, promoting the health and well-being of those who live, work and visit. The environmentally friendly design will reduce energy use and minimize carbon emissions.
From the expansive Metropolitan Park to sun-splashed beaches, The Ellinikon will have nature and wellbeing woven into every experience.
The Athenian Rivera — stretching east from the city along one of the world’s most sought-after coastlines — begins at The Ellinikon. This coastal experience combines shops and attractions, a 400-berth marina and new residences—a pristine new beach, open to family fun and romantic sunsets.
Connecting the city to the sea as never before, The Ellinikon’s coastal revitalization casts the radiant Aegean light to all its guests and residents. A striking combination of natural beauty and world-class architecture will make this seaside retreat a global attraction unlike any other in mainland Greece.
The Ellinikon’s coastal aspect is arranged along a singular waterfront promenade — open, inviting, car-free, switching between full of activity and calm. The promenade connects the beach with The Ellinikon Park — an unbroken flow of vibrant nature, from cool greenery to glistening sands.
The Marina will be a dynamic hub on the Athenian Riviera — a destination in itself attracting city day-trippers, Mediterranean island-hoppers and those living or staying around The Ellinikon.
It’s home to the Riviera Galleria, Athens’ first open-air shopping and gastronomy destination. A luxurious location for upscale shopping and socializing, the 22,000 sqm Galleria is strikingly designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Above it all, Foster + Partners’ iconic Marina Tower sets new standards for sustainable residential design, while providing an elegant landmark for The Ellinikon’s coastal front.
With great weather all year round, the beach at The Ellinikon will be perfect for snorkelers, sailors and sunbathers. Wander a full kilometer of white sand and warm surf, with unique recreational facilities and amenities to make the waters of the Riviera your own splendid playground.
The Ellinikon will not only enhance the wellbeing of those who live and work in the “city” but bring a new dimension for visitors to Athens. Two new high-end hotels on the coastal front are currently under construction. The Beach Hotel will bring together tranquil luxury and seclusion along with the year-round dynamics of urban Athens. At the other end of the promenade, the luxury Marina Hotel will appeal to visitors who arrive by yacht — or those who are escaping the city for a cosmopolitan stay.
Highlighted by the statement high-rise Riviera Tower and the beachfront villas, the Ellinikon will feature modern, sustainable, and smart homes for working families. Parkside flats for travelers, professionals, and empty-nesters, as well as the beach villas for sun-seekers. And all will meet the highest green building standards.
The Ellinikon will also offer two branded residential opportunities, linked to the luxury hotels, that will bring the in-demand lifestyle to Athens for the first time.
For corporates, the master development is offering a broad mix of new, top-grade office space throughout the project, centered on a commercial zone with Greece’s new skyscrapers. We should highlight that the Ellinikon was planned from the start to be a great place to work for 21st Century employees. We suggest that The Ellinikon will be a talent-attractor for digital nomads, creative agencies, ambitious entrepreneurs, and international businesses from around the world.
Another attractive aspect of the master development is the exposure to sports. The Ellinikon will be the sporting hub of Metropolitan Athens, available for everyday workouts, special events, public engagement, and global sports brands. Courts, pitches, pools, and state-of-the-art training facilities for amateurs and professionals alike will be accessible for residents and visitors. Overall, this truly unique and aspiring master development was designed for a positive, healthy, and prosperous future. It meets the current trend for a home at the Mediterranean but in close proximity to a major city. Therefore, the Ellinikon will attract homebuyers, buyers looking for a pied-a-terre, investors, and corporates.
