Greece is transforming unused Ellinikon airport into Europe’s largest smart city

Greece is transforming an old, unused airport into Ellinikon, the largest smart city in Europe. Located along the Athens Riviera on the site of the former Ellinikon Airport, which closed in 2001, this first-of-its-kind city is set for completion by 2037 and will increase Athen’s green space by 44 percent. Spanning over 6,200 acres, Ellinikon will be a 20-minute drive from Athens. Lamda Development, having won the project tender in 2014, envisions a futuristic city centred around sustainable energy, open spaces, and green zones.

Ellinikon will boast a luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel and an integrated casino resort. The city will also house two shopping malls, Europe’s biggest coastal park, seaside residential buildings, and a sports centre with swimming pools, soccer fields, and tennis courts. By the end of 2024, Marina Tower, the first skyscraper in Greece, is expected to reach its final height of 330 feet.

Lamda Development anticipates that 10,000 residences will be built by the project’s completion. Sales have already begun, with 140 units finding buyers, mostly Greek nationals, out of the 243 currently available. Residents will enjoy a 15-minute walkable radius to schools, parks, the beach, stores, and offices. A metro line will connect the former Ellinikon Airport site to central Athens. Additionally, the city’s maintenance system will be interwoven with smart software to manage and control waste, water, and energy services throughout Ellinikon.

Upon completion, Ellinikon is expected to contribute 2.5 percent to Greece’s GDP, create approximately 80,000 new jobs, and generate tax revenue of more than EUR 10 billion (SGD 1,453,950,988). The new city is also expected to be a tourism magnet, attracting an additional million tourists annually.