Land restoration for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece: Case study Lycabettus slopes (cycle road)

Abstract

A number of landscape projects have been completed around Athens (Greece) for the 2004 Olympic Games. The common purpose of these projects was the promotion of quality in: design, construction and maintenance stages. They also comply with environmental management, which is a method of organising and implementing environmental protection measures. The paper includes the landscape transportation project-an urban ring road around a main green historical area of Athens, Lycabettus hill slopes, that was used as a cycle road for the Olympic Games. Due to the special natural ecosystem, the technical difficulties (high slopes) and the long history of this site, the development and the landscape design of this project was a highly challenging task and required methods for ecological balance. The implementation of landscape design in this project, aimed at restoring the landscape affected by construction work, incorporating transport work into the landscape, emphasizing areas of particular interest (e.g. rest areas) while at the same time observing the principles of an efficient operation and safe use of the alignment. The present application of the landscape restoration aimed to provide, amongst others, for the protection of slopes against surface erosion and the reinforcement of their stability, the improvement of road functionality, the aesthetic improvement of the landscape, adaptation of the road landscape to the greater environment and visual guidance of the user. The landscape design strategy and landscape applications considered as part of the sustainable development of the road created aesthetic scenery, ensured the security of the transportation and provided environmental protection.