Known for its iconic ancient architecture perched on dusty hills, Athens, Greece‘s capital, isn’t usually associated with lush open spaces. But that could change soon, as London’s old international airport and its surrounding wa terfront are slated to transform into a gigantic seaside park, bigger than London‘s Hyde Park. Athens International Airport closed in 2001, performing 20 times of work to set up backing and operation mechanisms for the original government to convert 600 hectares of unused space into Europe’s largest littoral demesne. The point has a rich history, from neolithic agreements to the construction of a 20th- century field to its use as a venue for the 2004 Olympic Games. 

Abandoned Airport near Athens, Greece, Set to be Transformed into Europe’s Largest Coastal Park - Sheet1
Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Aerial_©SASAKI

Transforming and creating the megalopolis of Ellienikon.A demesne with a comforting geography and climate-friendly design that serves as a demesne, playground, and artistic centre for the megacity of Athens. The inventor plans to break ground beforehand.

 Elnikon, erected in 1938, was once the only field in the Greek capital before making way for the new Athens International Airport( also known as Eleftherios Venizelos) before getting a host of the Olympic Games in 2004. It closed in 2001 after 60 times of service. turn. Moment, his,530- hectare land, three times the size of his in Monaco, serves as a new camp for his further, settlers and deportees from Asia and the Middle East. A 7 billion plan by the Lambda development, possessed by the important Greek Latsis family, will move deportees to other corridors of the country, transubstantiation the point into a littoral city with about,000 homes, hospices, shops, and 494 hectares of parkland. It’s what turns it into a city.0.62 long hauls of sand with free public access.

Abandoned Airport near Athens, Greece, Set to be Transformed into Europe’s Largest Coastal Park - Sheet2
Ellinikon Coastal Front_©SASAKI

The history of a place is one of the starting points for design. His 1960s Terminal Hall, designed by Eero Saarinen, will be saved and adaptively repurposed as the centrepiece of the large-scale event his space at the heart of the development. The contrivers also took into account the characteristics of public spaces in Athens. Numerous of them are unresistant geographies along ancient remains, city places, and thoroughfares. The new demesne aims to help citizens reconnect with nature and revitalise their artistic affinity with the Greek country. The intervention will also increase the allocation of open space per tenant in Athens by 44.

Abandoned Airport near Athens, Greece, Set to be Transformed into Europe’s Largest Coastal Park - Sheet3
Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Saarinen Lawn_© SASAKI

 The organic visual donation underscores the intention to recreate the point’s ecology and topographical features. In contrast, the more rigorously direct donation nods to the heritage of the runway and Olympic venues., balancing artistic expression with the need to restore important territories. A rigorous analysis linked abecedarian factory species that give important ecological benefits. Over,000 new trees from 86 species were named for their ecosystem services and rigidity to the point’s unique soil profile, transubstantiating the area into a biodiversity hotspot.

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Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Lake District_©SASAKI

 Water deficit was also a problem. With adequate water operation and conservation strategies, all irrigation water requirements are met with treated water. A former canoe/ kayak Olympic venue has been repurposed to collect rainwater during the stormy season. The lake has a recirculating perfused swamp that serves as an exigency force for failure and fire fighting. Washes, rain auditoriums, and a bioswale network complete the picture of Greece’s largest green structure.

 Ecological Restoration as a motorist of Design

 The history of airfields and the Olympic Games provides a foundation for formal movement, but natural systems offer openings to diverge from the rigid formalities of being structured. This duality is directly reflected in the design. Increase. gain. Curvilinear, organic imagery highlights restored ecosystems and geomorphology, while rectilinear definitions represent the heritage of the field runway, the 2004 Olympic venues, and the point’s agrarian heritage. Most importantly, the demesne provides an occasion to restore important territories and ecosystem functions, balancing artistic expression with robust restoration.

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Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Sculpture Hill Summit_©SASAKI

 The point has been unmaintained nearly 20 times, but a new ecosystem has surfaced. Although geographies can not be regressed topre-human ecological assemblages, rigorous analysis reveals underpinning factory species that give important ecological benefits similar too. Habitat structure and food force for original wildlife. linked. New trees representing 86 species were named for their ecosystem services and felicity for the point’s unique soil profile. The factory list has been precisely checked

 1) native status

 2) rigidity to original and indigenous climatic conditions

 3) current distribution range in the Mediterranean receptacle and known circumstances on the Attica promontory.

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Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Olympic Square Aerial_© SASAKI

 Setting a New Standard for Carbon Neutrality

 Ellinikon Metropolitan Park will be carbon neutral 35 times. This is an amazing achievement for a design of this scale. The demesne is a geography that embodies regenerative design and will significantly impact Athens from a climate perspective. In all design aspects, from land operation to material exercise, water systems, food and energy product, and niche creation, premises are geographies that work. It has a heroic compass and ambition, leading to a responsibility to strengthen the relationship between Greece and the country and its spirit in the environment of the 21st century. It’s a visible communal platform, an advanced geography model that brings symbiotic benefits to people and the earth.

Ellinikon Metropolitan Park Illustrative Plan_©SASAKI

References:

Florian, M.-C. (2022) Abandoned Airport near Athens, Greece, set to be transformed into Europe’s largest Coastal Park, ArchDaily. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/993614/abandoned-airport-near-athens-greece-set-to-be-transformed-into-europes-largest-coastal-park#:~:text=The%20Athens%20International%20Airport%20was,into%20Europe’s%20largest%20coastal%20park. (Accessed: December 25, 2022). 

Lewis, N. (2022) Abandoned Greek airport to be transformed into a 600-acre Coastal Park, CNN. Cable News Network. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ellinikon-athens-airport-greece-development-c2e-spc-intl/index.html (Accessed: December 25, 2022). 

The Ellinikon Metropolitan Park (no date) Sasaki. Available at: https://www.sasaki.com/projects/the-ellinikon-metropolitan-park/ (Accessed: December 25, 2022). 

LaGrave, K. (2016) Abandoned Greek airport may become country’s largest coastal resort, Condé Nast Traveler. Condé Nast Traveler. Available at: https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-07-28/abandoned-greek-airport-may-become-countrys-largest-coastal-resort (Accessed: December 25, 2022). 

Author

Abha has completed her architecture from mumbai. She is passionate about designing and has a creative mind. She also fond of binging series and movies.