Athens cradles a new civilization

A decade ago, Greece was bankrupt. Today, it is building the US$8 billion smart city of tomorrow

WORDS TAMSIN COCKS

A fleet of cranes and diggers toil away on a vast 6.2 million sqm construction site along the Athens Riviera, 20 minutes south of Athens. It's the former home of Ellinikon International Airport, which closed in 2001 when Athens International Airport opened. Several structures from the old airport remain, including hangars, terminals and signage, but soon the area will be unrecognisable, transformed into The Ellinikon – the largest smart city in Europe. The US$8 billion project, led by LAMDA Development, is the kind of thing you might expect to see in the Middle East or China – not the sleepy coast of one of Europe's ancient capitals. But the futuristic city will be a major boost for Athenians and visitors alike, and a gleaming testament to modern Greece. The first phase…

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Business Traveller (Digital) - 1 Issue, July/August 2024

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