Greece Unveils Blueprints For Carbon-Neutral Smart City To Be Completed By 2026

The Ellinikon Metropolitan Park, as it is being called, is currently poised to be Europe’s largest largest coastal park that spans over 600,000 acres. The city/park will be constructed in the notorious city of Athens, spearheaded by international design firm Sasaki and Lambda Development.

Moreover, other companies will be directly involved in the city’s construction, such as ‘design and engineering consultancy Arup, Greek architectural firm Doxiadis, environmental design consultancy Atelier10, Fluidity, and engineering and environmental services company, Langan,’ reported by Smart Cities World.

Sasaki prides itself on our expertise in designing civic projects that transform cities by creating economic and social value, enhancing the environment, and providing access to beautiful and resilient public spaces for all. We feel privileged to create a monumental park unlike any other in Athens – one that will last for generations.
We are grateful to Lamda Development and the people of Athens for collaborating with us and for trusting us on this exciting journey.
Michael Grove, principal and chair of landscape architecture, civil engineering, and ecology at Sasaki, said

Initial investment costs are roughly 8 billion euros ($7.75B).

Concept art of the city. Courtesy: The Ellinikon Project

Fosters + Partners provides an overview of some of the park’s features:

The Ellinikon Masterplan seeks to create a new vision for the future of Mediterranean coastal development in Greece. It takes a restorative approach to the management and design of existing natural and built resources to breathe life into the Athenian coastline. It establishes a new paradigm for integrated and sustainable living, transforming the site of a former airport into a vibrant district. It will feature several diverse neighbourhoods that bring together residential, shopping, working, leisure, entertainment and cultural activities around the largest coastal park in Europe.

The site lies close to the heart of the city on the Athenian Riviera and is serviced by metro and tram lines. The restorative approach of the masterplan builds on the history of the site and enables the repurposing of existing infrastructure. It seeks to transform the site into a polycentric district of several walkable and mixed-use neighbourhoods that benefit from their proximity to the Aegean Sea and the large metropolitan park. Each neighbourhood is self-sustaining and integrated with the urban fabric via a series of green pedestrian connections. A smooth transition in building form and height allows for compatibility with the existing vernacular. 50 percent of the area of each neighbourhood will be given back to local communities as social infrastructure and welfare or cultural facilities, paving the way for commercial development with unprecedented social and cultural value.

The design introduces a new standard of sustainable living, integrated with nature. The metropolitan park will increase the allocation of open space per Athenian resident by 44%, playing an integral role in the greening the city. The design is optimised in terms of views and orientation, transport links, environmental and social impact, and integration with local communities. The masterplan also seeks to reconnect the city with the sea by creating subterranean connections tunnelling under the main avenue that currently traverses the site. The masterplan is enabled for smart applications, aiming at delivering an innovative and future-proof framework for the future growth of Athens.

Situated at the heart of the masterplan site, Marina Tower embodies its core principles to create a sustainable exemplar for contemporary living. The design draws inspiration from the ecological and cultural elements of the Mediterranean landscape and from Athens’ vernacular architecture to create an innovative design approach. The tower’s massing has been designed from the inside out to celebrate its unique location, immersed in nature. All apartments have dual aspect and enjoy unobstructed panoramic views of the coastline and incorporate naturally ventilated interiors.

Concept of the Marina Tower. Courtesy: The Ellinikon Project

“Agenda 2030: You’ll Own Nothing And Be Happy,”

Even though it is believed by some that the city will be ready by 2026, Smart Cities World says ‘the project will be operationally net zero carbon at opening and carbon neutral by 2055.’

AUTHOR COMMENTARY

[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. [22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Acts 17:16, 22

Some things never change now do they?

As I have noted in my reports about the construction of these smart cities, you will notice that so many of them, just like this one, have very low occupancy in them. I have no way of knowing what the rough number of people will be by 2030, but it will be significantly a lot less than the approximately 7.8 billion we have now. These smart cities will be packing in the people like sardines in a can in the times to come.

[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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