The design and regeneration of Greek cities—drawing inspiration from successful urban transformations abroad—took center stage at Prodexpo 2025, Greece and Southeastern Europe’s leading real estate conference.

The discussion brought together prominent international architects who shared lessons from global cities and ideas for reshaping Athens.

Jette Cathrin Hopp, Director of Acquisition and Business Development at Snøhetta, expressed her deep affection for Athens, calling it “a perfect mix that captivates visitors.” Yet, she noted the city’s major challenge: traffic and poor walkability. “Athens is not pedestrian-friendly. About 40% of sidewalks are narrower than one meter, and 5% of streets have none at all,” she said.

Hopp stressed the need for a clear, long-term vision built on public–private collaboration, focusing on reuse rather than demolition. Pointing to Copenhagen and Oslo, she highlighted mindset shifts as the real drivers of urban renewal. Regarding the Ellinikon project, she saw it as a chance to reconnect Athens with the sea.

Michael Jones, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, described Athens as “a beautiful city dominated by cars.” He called for better infrastructure and disincentives for car use, noting London and Boston as successful examples.

Accessibility, he argued, is key to sustainability: “Development should aim for long-term value, not short-term profit.” Climate resilience, he added, must be integral to future design.

Marianthi Tatari, Director and Senior Architect at UN Studio, praised the human scale and historical layers of Greek cities. Engaging citizens, she said, is vital to promoting public transport: “People must feel their voices matter when changes are made.”

Ryan Neiheiser of Neiheiser Argyros called Athens “a vibrant, three-dimensional green city,” though hindered by poor sidewalks and lighting.

Meanwhile, Julian Lipscombe of Bennetts Associates emphasized the need for alignment between public and private actors, citing London’s King’s Cross as a model. He described Ellinikon as a rare opportunity to craft “a truly Athenian waterfront city.”