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Europe's Largest Coastal Park Rises From Airport
14 Aug
Summary
- Europe's largest coastal urban park will open in 2027.
- The park uses smart irrigation, saving up to 90% water.
- It features 'cool routes' up to 4°C cooler than surroundings.
The Ellinikon is emerging as Europe's largest coastal urban park, set to open to the public in early 2027 in Elliniko, Greece. This ambitious regeneration project transforms a former airport into a vast green space covering 200 hectares, aiming to be one of the largest in Europe.
The park prioritizes sustainability with over 30,000 trees and three million shrubs. It integrates advanced water management, including a wastewater treatment unit and a smart irrigation system projected to save up to 90% of water. This infrastructure enhances the park's resilience during heatwaves.
Further infrastructure additions are planned through 2030. The design incorporates a network of 'cool routes' that are up to four degrees Celsius cooler than surrounding asphalted areas, achieved through extensive vegetation and water features.
The Ellinikon is also being documented as a model for sustainable park design in a guide by landscape architect Dimitra Theochari and UNEP Global Chief Heat Officer Lenio Myrivili.
Local Greek materials like Kavala marble and Karystos slate will be used, with recycled materials from the airport integrated into the new design to minimize the environmental footprint.
Comparatively, The Ellinikon will be larger than London's Hyde Park and Berlin's Tiergarten, and its coastal location offers a unique seaside dimension not typical of large European parks.
