Athens Kallithea Football Club stadium design

Athens Kallithea Football Club Stadium Building Renewal

29 May 2026

Design: K-Studio

Location: ‘El Paso’, Kallithea, Athens, Greece

First visuals of the reimaged ‘El Paso’ stadium in Athens by K-Studio:

image : Filippo Bolognese

Athens-based design practice K-Studio have released the first images of their redesign of an iconic Greek football stadium. K-Studio have partnered with Athens Kallithea Football Club to reimagine their stadium into an inclusive, open space for sport, community and culture.

K-STUDIO TEAMS UP WITH ATHENS KALLITHEA FC AND ARUP TO REIMAGINE FOOTBALL STADIUM

• Athens-based design practice K-Studio has partnered with Athens Kallithea FC to reimagine their stadium into an open hub for sport, community and culture
• First images of the design showcase the ambition to become more than a stadium – with additional seating and improved facilities coupled with a new public park, restaurants and event spaces
• The design preserves the identity of the stadium while amplifying its role in the community, activating the site beyond match days and enriching its place in everyday life

May, Athens, Greece – Athens-based design practice K-Studio has teamed up with Athens Kallithea FC and Arup for a collaborative regeneration of Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium, commonly known as “El Paso,” in the Athenian neighborhood of Kallithea, reimagining it as an open and inclusive space for sport, culture and community life.

More than a stadium

Nicknamed “El Paso” for the imposing rocks that form part of the perimeter of the stadium, a reference to the 1965 Spaghetti Western film For a Few Dollars More, Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium is the home of Athens Kallithea FC, a football club founded in 1966 and transformed in recent years with a positioning that extends from sport to culture and community. With partnerships that include the ΕΜSΤ National Museum of Contemporary Art and the Greek National Opera, the club is one of the most distinctive brands in European football with a reach from Athens to the rest of the world.

The design increases the stadium seating capacity while also opening the perimeter into a public park:

image : Filippo Bolognese

Rather than introducing a radical transformation, K-Studio’s design amplifies and refines the existing stadium and preserves the character of the structure while upgrading and expanding its facilities, capacity, and spatial performance. Building on the stadium’s history dating back to 1970 and its deep community roots (beyond hosting football, the stadium has been a training ground for the community, with open access to the public) plus the club’s mission to leverage sport as a tool for social activation and cultural expression, the proposal strengthens El Paso’s connection to the neighbourhood and amplifies its role within daily life of the Kallithea neighbourhood.

render : Filippo Bolognese

Key design interventions

This approach will leave the stadium largely intact and retain the original identity of the beloved stadium while upgrading its infrastructure, increasing capacity and expanding its role in public life.

The proposal increases capacity from the current 6,300 to 9,000 seats, addressing contemporary requirements for accessibility while enhancing spectator experience and social interaction.

The currently fenced perimeter will be opened to the public, offering a new lush green park back to the city and extending the stadium into a porous civic landscape more closely integrated with the neighbourhood. Extensive vegetation and tree planting will improve the site’s microclimate, mitigating urban heat, and reinforcing the stadium’s role as a green civic asset.

A striking new facade addition—a nod to Athenian scaffolding structures—will host new social areas for pre- and post-game activities, including dedicated retail and restaurant areas, upgraded wellness zone, an exhibition area, and a multi-purpose event space to activate the site beyond match days.

The design operates through precise architectural and landscape interventions that reinforce – rather than replace – the stadium’s inherent qualities. At its core, the project positions the stadium as an active space, deeply rooted in its community and gently evolved for a broader urban future.

The project positions the stadium as an active, civic space that retains the identity of the historic venue:

picture : Filippo Bolognese

Dimitris Karampatakis, Founding Partner and Creative Director of K-Studio, said: “We were invited to undertake a design study on the regeneration of the entire masterplan, unlocking opportunities for the years to come. From early on it was clear that the strong history and raw beauty of the existing building should not only be preserved, but highlighted into the new era. The transformation seeks to re-envision the stadium as a contemporary venue for sports and culture, enhancing its role as a place of gathering and wellbeing.”

Ted Philipakos, President and Creative Director of Athens Kallithea FC, said: “Athens Kallithea FC aspires to establish itself among Greece’s top clubs, calling for a stadium evolution that responds not only to present requirements but also the ambitions for a greater future on the pitch. Off the pitch, the club has positioned itself as a uniquely values-based organization, aiming to leverage sport as a vehicle for civic pride, social cohesion, and community development, and the next era of the stadium must serve this cause.”

Giorgos Karampelas, Creative Director of K-Studio, said: “Our approach to the redesign of the stadium sought to position the project as a catalyst for broader urban revitalization rather than a standalone sports upgrade. Using our deep understanding of placemaking and how to create spaces that are built to last, the proposal reframes the site as an active civic hub, strengthening its connectivity and transforming it into a destination that attracts both local residents and visitors from across Athens.”

K-Studio has been designing hospitality, residential and cultural spaces for over 20 years, bringing a considered, curious approach to their projects. With a focus on heritage, community and a deep respect for craftsmanship, K-Studio designs spaces that are rooted in their surroundings and built to last. Upcoming projects include Rosewood Blue Palace in Crete and Athens International Airport, as well as several international projects in the pipeline.

To find out more about the project, visit k-studio.gr/project/akfc/

K Studio

K Studio is a design practice based in Athens, Greece for over 20 years. Founded by brothers Dimitris and Konstantinos Karampatakis, the studio comprises a multidisciplinary team working across hospitality, residential and the public realm.

This Greek architectural practice is grounded in a considered, curious approach to its projects that produces immersive designs that are rooted in heritage and context, creating spaces that are built to last. Notable works include Dexamenes Seaside Hotel, Manna, the “Liknon” brand home for METAXA, and, most recently, the extension and refurbishment of Athens International Airport.

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Athens Kallithea FC

Athens Kallithea FC is a professional football club based in Kallithea, Athens, Greece. Founded in 1966 from a merger of five local clubs, the club plays at Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium — commonly referred to as “El Paso” — located in the heart of the district of Kallithea, approximately 2 km south of the Acropolis. AKFC has competed in Greece’s top division, the Super League, as recently as the 2024/25 season.

ARUP

ARUP is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary consultancy with extensive experience in the design and delivery of sports and entertainment venues worldwide. The firm has contributed to stadiums, arenas, training facilities, and large-scale public gathering environments, combining engineering, sustainability, mobility, and technical design expertise within complex projects.

Through an integrated and research-driven approach, ARUP delivers high-performance sports facilities that prioritize functionality, operational efficiency, spectator experience, accessibility, resilience, and environmental responsibility, while creating venues that contribute lasting civic, cultural, and social value.

Athens Kallithea Football Club building design images / information received 290526 from Gr

Location: Athens, Greece, southeast Europe.

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