Greece’s First Skyscraper To Be Designed By Foster + Partners

The tower that stands 200 meters tall will be the centrepiece of Ellinikon, a luxurious project currently being developed in Athens to boost tourism in Attica.

Athens-based property firm Lamda Development has unveiled the design of what it claims will be Greece’s first skyscraper.

The Elinikon development, located near Athens and built on the site of the former Hellenikon Airport, will feature the Riviera Tower as its centrepiece. The renowned British architect firm Foster & Partners designed this impressive structure.

The tower, towering at 200 meters and spanning 50 storeys, will feature 169 apartments and penthouses, ranging from one to five bedrooms. Its architecture is reported to be influenced by the natural environment of the area.

The developer even claims that the skyscraper is more environmentally sustainable than a low-rise development:

“The Riviera Tower heralds the continued progress of the Ellinikon, as well as a new era for Greece’s built environment and economy,” said Angeliki Touziou, chief development officer with Lamda Development.

“The design of the building has been meticulously considered with sustainability and experience in mind. Taller buildings reduce surface coverage, resulting in more space for the green, open areas that the Ellinikon is committed to bringing to the people of this city,” he declared.

“As we continue to hold environmental protection and energy reduction at the forefront of our goals, the Riviera Tower and the Ellinikon’s additional high-rise towers will benefit the environment through smart urban densification and accompanying green space,” added Touziou.

Construction work on the Riviera Tower began earlier this year; the building is due to be completed during phase 1 of the Ellinikon project, with handover expected during the first quarter of 2026. The Riviera Tower is the first residential building in the city to be pre-certified with LEED at Gold Level, adding to the city’s existing LEED Gold-certified commercial offerings. 

A joint venture between Bouygues Group and Intrakat has been set up for the early building works. Tombazis & Associates has been appointed as local design consultant, alongside a design team consisting of Buro Happold, Faithful & Gould, Tekem, Deta Consulting Engineers, and Doxiadis Plus.

A joint venture of Mace and Jacobs is acting as a project management consultant for the Riviera Tower.