Josep

Acebillo HELLINIKON, GREECE STRATEGIC URBAN MODEL Phase I - Conceptualization

Under the commission of the Greek Government, Barcelona Strategic Urban System -BcnSus- has prepared a conceptual Urban Model for Hellinikon with the theses that support its development. The essential requirements are: HELLINIKON POTENTIAL. To consider Hellinikon of national relevance and as an opportunity to configure a new metropolitan model which will act as a socio-economic catalyst for the city-region of Athens. To liberate programs in degraded areas of central Athens and surrounding municipalities of Hellinikon and adopt them in the new site. In this sense, we can consider Hellinikon as an acupuncture program of public spaces and a potential transfer of development rights. URBAN MODEL. New urban centrality for innovation & Glocal Complexity. In terms of open space/built ratios, a minimum of 72% of the ground will be green (filtering surface), up to 12% will be built (GFA), and approx. 15% will be for roads. Minimum density: 0,3/0,5=2M/3M new built. THE PARK. A central park of at least 260 ha will structure the proposal and will connect the sea with the neighboring districts as a consequence of its interstitial morphology. To assume ecological functions (filtering land), including a forest with autochthon vegetation. URBAN CLUSTERS. The urban mosaic will be organized in clusters with a welldefined street pattern and a system of public space with plazas and boulevards and green local areas intertwined with the buildings. RESIDENTIAL with high diversity of housing typologies. Parkings, retail and services will foster the Mediterranean way of life. aprox 980.000 m2 (incl. parking , services and possibly offices. 6.200-6.500 dwelling units. 15.000 residents). NEOTERTIARY. A strong financial and governmental district which will be concentrated around the old international terminal of Saarinen, to encourage the socio-economic centrality. NEOTERTIARY. University and R&D with state of the art facilities will be created as an international center for education and businesses related to new media technologies. WATERFRONT. To built a Poseidonos Bypass in order to potentiate the continuity between the park and the sea. Public waterfront facilities, Mediterranean villages around a renewed marina preserving a public waterfront. NEW URBAN METABOLISM. The urban metabolism of Hellinikon will guaranty a high urban efficiency in both, decreasing energy consumption (12.300 kWh/year person) fostering near zero energy buildings, and promoting a new mobility matrix with new transport technologies to discourage the car use within Hellinikon. IT IS NOT YET THE TIME FOR ARCHITECTURE. Now is the time for strategic thinking and to shape up the conditions to facilitate architecture of quality. Hellinikon offers a great opportunity to showcase the potential of todays Greek architecture worldwide.

Arial view of the location

Syntagma, Piraeus, and Hellinikon: a future tripod of Athens City/Region

General morphology

Arial view from the sea

The Park

Arial view of the park

Waterfront

Neotertiary/ Financial district Neotertiary/ University and R&D

Urban Metabolism/Mobility - Transportation System