Comparing Athens with most European urban centers, there is a mismatch between Greek and European reality, both in urban planning and building features. On the occasion of the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens was transformed into a modern metropolis, creating new infrastructure and trying to redevelop it so as to reflect international urban standards. In this endeavor of upgrade, new large-scale projects took place, but the Greek city still lacks many of the traits that characterize European cities and continues to grow and expand anarchically, without any limitation, except for the buildings’ height. The model of tall buildings has now completely changed the appearance and perception of most modern cities worldwide and, either as an architectural or as an economic element, is largely used for the organization of the urban landscape. However, the Greek state faces the erection of buildings higher than the limit, which has existed for the last century, with absolute denial due to either environmental or historical arguments.

This paper presents the evolutionary course of architecture and urban planning in Athens in order to understand the reasons and conditions that led the capital and the rest of the Greek cities to acquire their present form, which can hardly be considered successful considering the quality of life offered to the residents. Within this framework are mentioned some architectural examples and attempts to upgrade the architectural quality of Athens. Thereafter, reference is made to the modifications on the General Building Regulation, the permissible heights regulations and the ways of building. An extensive analysis is then made on how skyscrapers interfere with the structure and operation of cities, presenting the advantages and disadvantages that can be attributed to their integration into the urban environment. Finally, having an overall view of the situation in the Greek cities, there is an attempt to investigate whether the creation of modern skyscrapers may eventually be a plausible solution for the remodeling and modernization of the urban landscape of Athens according to international standards.