The city of Athens is on the cusp of a momentous transformation with the forthcoming addition of Ellinikon Park. This groundbreaking project promises to be a pivotal chapter in the city’s historical legacy. Spearheaded by Lamda Development, this ambitious venture is set to become the largest park in Athens and claims the title of “Europe’s largest coastal park.”
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
The Ellinikon Park: Sasaki’s Cutting-Edge Design Shaping Europe’s Biggest Coastal Retreat
According to Urban Land’s Bennett Voyles, Athens is about to witness its first significant park after an astonishing wait of 3,400 years. Once completed in 2030, Ellinikon Park will sprawl across an impressive 600 acres (243 hectares), roughly three-fourths the size of New York City’s renowned Central Park, effectively introducing a vast expanse of public green space that may come to hold equal significance for Athenians as Central Park does for New Yorkers.
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
The realization of this grand vision is entrusted to the expertise of the international planning and design firm Sasaki Associates. The firm has seized the opportunity to transform the site into a unique urban oasis by preserving “leftover remnants” of venues used during the 2002 Summer Olympics and elements of Athen’s old International Airport, which ceased operations in 2001.
As Michal Grove, the park’s chief landscape architect at Sasaki Associates, revealed to Urban Land, “The site’s challenges were viewed as opportunities to employ a restoration ecology approach. The objective is twofold: first, to maximize carbon sequestration in the living biomass and soil carbon, and second, to foster biodiversity and wildlife by creating large areas of relatively untouched landscape.”
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
The environmental commitment of Sasaki Associates goes beyond creating a mere public park. They are dedicated to ecological restoration and minimizing the park’s carbon footprint. To achieve this, the team intends to use existing materials found on the site and prioritize the utilization of “durable, reusable, and long life-cycle materials” leftover from the park’s previous incarnations.
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
To achieve carbon neutrality within 35 years, Sasaki Associates relies on advanced tools like Carbon Conscience and Pathfinder. These tools guide their design decisions, emphasizing increased carbon sequestration and storage while reducing embodied carbon. As a result, the park creatively repurposes approximately 28,720 square meters (309,140 square feet) of concrete from the former airport runways and tarmac. This clever reuse not only adds a touch of artistry to the park but also serves as a subtle nod to the site’s rich history.
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
The impact of the Ellinikon Park project has already garnered significant recognition. In the Carbon, Climate & Energy category of the 2023 World Architecture Festival, it received accolades, highlighting its commitment to sustainability. Additionally, the park earned the prestigious Urban Design category winner in Fast Company’s esteemed World Changing Ideas Awards.
Ellinikon Park has ignited a wave of excitement among the Greek community. As Groves shared, every Greek and Greek American he spoke to expressed strong memories of the site and genuine enthusiasm for its transformation into a public park. The design team responsible for this remarkable project comprises members from Sasaki Associates and collaborates with 50 consultants and design specialists, including Fluidity Design Consultants.
Courtesy of Sasaki Associates
The journey towards the realization of Ellinikon Park has already commenced, with the first phase of development scheduled for completion by 2026. By 2030, the park’s second phase will be ready to welcome Athenians and visitors to an unparalleled natural haven in Athens’s heart.
Ellinikon Park represents a visionary endeavor that will forever change the landscape of Athens. With its grand scale, ecological focus, and commitment to sustainability, it is poised to become a source of pride for the city and a cherished haven for future generations.
