Rising from the sun-soaked grounds of Athens’ former international airport, Riviera Tower combines biophilic principles, advanced engineering, and a distinct Mediterranean sensibility.
Designed by Foster + Partners, the 656-foot tower is a focal point of The Ellinikon, a smart city being built along the Athenian Riviera.
Inspired by the natural beauty of the Athenian coastline, the tower’s undulating form mirrors the rhythm of the sea and shoreline, while its minimalist lines and natural palette evoke regional textures and colors. Native vegetation climbs the structure through a green spine of communal and private outdoor spaces, including gardens and pools that cascade upward along the tower’s form.
Credits: Relevance
High Performance, Low Impact
With LEED Gold certification in its sights, Riviera Tower aims to be one of Europe’s most environmentally advanced residential towers. The design team incorporated a variety of passive and active strategies to minimize its carbon footprint. These include:
- 30% greater energy efficiency than the average new build in Greece
- 60% reduced irrigation needs through drought-tolerant native plantings
- 10% reduction in embodied carbon, thanks to careful material selection
- A pioneering concrete mix with 70% less cement used in the foundation
That last innovation—developed over six months of lab testing in France and Greece—marks a significant step toward low-carbon construction in the region. Advanced heat pumps, smart lighting, and water management features contribute to the building’s performance.
Credits: Relevance
Living with Nature, at Every Level
Biophilic design is more than a flourish here; it’s central to how residents experience the building. Planted terraces serve not just as aesthetic elements, but as tools for passive cooling, privacy, and air purification. They promote biodiversity, reduce urban heat island effects, and foster microclimates that improve comfort in a high-rise setting.
Every residence is carefully oriented to maintain unobstructed sea views—no small feat in a dense vertical structure. Floorplates curve and shift to maximize visibility, with landscaped buffers strategically placed to shield private outdoor areas without compromising sightlines.
That vision has struck a chord. Riviera Tower is already completely presold, signaling strong demand for high-performance living that doesn’t sacrifice comfort or connection to nature.
Project: Riviera Tower at The Ellinikon
Architect: Foster + Partners
Location: Athenian Riviera, Athens, Greece
Status: Under construction
Height: 656 feet
Residences: 170 (fully presold)
Target Certification: LEED Gold
