The Ellinikon is Europe's largest urban regeneration project, transforming the 620-hectare site of Athens' decommissioned Hellenikon International Airport into a state-of-the-art smart city district on the Athenian Riviera. Led by Lamda Development, the project integrates advanced digital technologies across every layer of urban infrastructure — from AI-driven energy management and intelligent transport systems to IoT-enabled waste collection and environmental monitoring. The development is designed around the 15-minute city concept, ensuring that residents can access all essential services, workspaces, retail, healthcare, and leisure facilities within a short walk or cycle ride.
At the heart of The Ellinikon's smart city strategy are three guiding principles: people first, digital readiness, and resilience. Rather than deploying technology for its own sake, the project prioritises citizen-centric solutions that enhance daily wellbeing without being intrusive. A comprehensive digital backbone connects buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure through a unified data platform, enabling real-time optimisation of energy consumption, traffic flows, and public safety.
The development includes smart residences equipped with home automation systems, shared mobility hubs, and an extensive network of sensors that monitor air quality, noise levels, and microclimate conditions. Open data initiatives and an innovation ecosystem encourage startups and research institutions to develop new urban applications within the district. With construction now underway across more than 40 sites and an AI and digitisation hub taking shape, The Ellinikon is rapidly progressing from masterplan to reality, serving as a living laboratory for smart city technologies and a replicable model for large-scale urban regeneration across Europe.