The Ellinikon: A world-class regeneration from the future

The regeneration of the former airport in Hellinikon is not just a major urban development project but offers a new way of how we can live in our city. In an area of ​​approximately 6.2 million sq. m., a new, modern, anthropocentric environment is taking shape: a neighborhood that connects residence, work, recreation and public space, and makes everyday life easier, more comfortable and happier. Based on the principles of sustainability, resilience and smart city, The Ellinikon aspires to be a reference point for Athens and the Mediterranean.

At the heart of the design, green becomes an everyday experience. In the area where runways, concrete and scattered facilities dominated for decades, a park of approximately 2 million sq. m. is being created, along with additional open and green spaces of approximately 600 thousand sq. m. These choices translate into more shade, a better microclimate and nature trails that unite the neighborhoods — places for walking, playing, exercising and tranquility. Thus, The Ellinikon acquires the character of a living place, which enhances well-being and offers quality of life to residents and visitors.

The idea of ​​the “15-minute city” acquires practical meaning here: basic needs — housing, work, education, health, recreation and daily services — are organized so that they are close by, without unnecessary travel. An extensive pedestrian and bicycle network exceeding 50 km. encourages gentle routes and makes travel simpler and more enjoyable. In this way, the experience of the city shifts from the dominance of the car in the neighborhood, to mixed use and public space — to an everyday life that gains time, tranquility and freedom.

However, quality of life is also built with safety — especially in an era of extreme weather events that are already affecting the southern suburbs. In The Ellinikon, resilience is built in from the start, with the strengthening of flood-proof infrastructure and solutions that make use of nature (such as the restoration of waterways and better management of rainwater). At the same time, the rational use of water for irrigation, with an emphasis on reuse and circular management, ensures that more greenery will not mean greater pressure on the water utility networks. This is an approach that protects the area and serves people, every day.

The project of The Ellinikon is aligned with European guidelines for green transition and the restoration of nature. Initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus highlight that sustainability has value when it meets aesthetics, quality and social cohesion. In this context, The Ellinikon can function as a modern case study on how a large-scale transformation project produces public space, enhances economic activity and reduces the environmental footprint.

Published in “White Paper: The Greater Riviera”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the future of coastal Attica.