Bjarke Ingels's curved residential high-rise will anchor a massive urban regeneration project in Greece

In Athens, Greece, Lamda Development has launched Little Athens, the newest residential neighborhood at the Ellinikon, a multiuse development billed as a smart city.

An urban regeneration project, the Ellinikon is located on the grounds of Athens’ old international airport. At 6.2 million square meters, the project will deliver about 1,115 new residences, and it will nearly double the amount of green space in the Athens metro area. In addition to residential units, the Ellinikon will encompass commercial, leisure, retail, dining, entertainment, education, and athletics spaces. 

Little Athens will feature modern homes, greenspace, retail, office, and hospitality. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, the 50-meter-tall Park Rise building will serve as Little Athens’ centerpiece. The high-rise will offer 88 one- to five-bedroom luxury residences across five building cores: two at five floors in height, two at eight floors, and one at 12 floors.  

The project’s curved concave façade, with off-white, glass-reinforced concrete, nods to the classic Greek column and to the natural landscape. The exterior juxtaposes flute patterns on the vertical areas with smooth finishes on the soffits and flooring, creating an interplay of textures. 

Park Rise offers views of the Aegean Sea on one side and the mountains of Attica on the other. The residences also enjoy sea, park, and mountain views. Penthouse residents have their own private pools.

With oakwood floors, neutral wall tones, and an extensive use of glass, every unit features finishes that evoke the local culture and climate. The kitchens include sintered stone, full-vein porcelain surfaces, and timber parquet floors. The primary bedrooms extend the wood aesthetic on the floors and the wood-panel headboard. The bathrooms feature large-scale ceramic tiles or natural stone and brushed bronze or brushed black chrome fixtures. 

Residents-only amenities include a 20-meter indoor swimming pool surrounded by stone, as well as ground-floor private gardens. 

On the Building Team:
Developer: Lamda Development
Design architect and architect of record: Bjarke Ingels Group
MEP design: LDK Consultants S.A.
Structural design: HELLINIKI MELETITIKI S.A.