Athens is set to welcome its first 15-minute city with the transformation of Hellinikon, Europe’s largest urban regeneration project. This ambitious initiative aims to create a vibrant, self-sufficient urban environment where work, education, healthcare, shopping, parks, and leisure are all within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from home.
A Visionary Urban Transformation
Led by LAMDA Development, the project will revitalize the former international airport of Athens into a dynamic coastal hub. The development includes:
- Europe’s largest urban park, surpassing both London’s Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park
- Modern residential neighborhoods, featuring the “Little Athens” project with over 1,100 new homes
- Luxury hotels, shopping centers, business districts, and cultural spaces
- A new 50-meter residential tower, designed by renowned architecture firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)
Tourism & Economic Growth
Hellinikon is expected to redefine Athens’ global tourism appeal, attracting 1 million additional tourists annually and boosting Greece’s GDP by 2.4%. Over its development, the project will generate more than €14 billion in tax revenues.
A True 15-Minute City?
While the project embraces many 15-minute city principles, some critics argue that its luxury focus and reliance on transportation links make it more of a destination hub than a truly self-sufficient community.
As Hellinikon takes shape, it sparks an important conversation on how equitable and accessible urban regeneration should be. Is this the future of city living?
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