The tropical airport that doesn’t need air conditioning

The world’s first bioclimatic airport terminal is located in La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. On this island, which is frequently exposed to strong winds and cyclones, the new arrivals terminal at Roland Garros Airport challenges the design principles of many other tropical hubs. Rather than fighting heat and humidity with air conditioning, it harnesses the air that already blows across the island, transforming the local climate from a problem into a resource. The core of the system is natural ventilation powered by trade winds, which almost entirely replaces mechanical cooling in areas open to the public.

This is made possible by the building’s architecture, designed by AIA Life Designers. It combines a porous façade equipped with motorised louvres, a shaped roof and a central bioclimatic canyon. The latter generates a low-pressure area that draws air through the entire structure, cooling the spaces without the need for HVAC systems. According to official documentation, the proportion of effectively air-conditioned surface area does not exceed 7%, while energy savings compared to the previous building are estimated at around 60%. The architects also calculate that the perceived temperature is about 4°C lower than in a traditionally cooled building of the same size, thanks to an air velocity of around 1 m/s in contact with the skin.

The entire infrastructure functions as an autonomous system. The louvred openings and large backup fans, which activate when there is insufficient natural wind, are automatically adjusted based on data collected by two weather stations that monitor wind direction and rainfall. 

Shading devices, roof overhangs and solar gain control systems complete the picture, limiting overheating alongside vegetation and green spaces, which help lower the perceived temperature and strengthen local biodiversity. The option to switch to manual control is what truly sets the project apart, for example in the event of a cyclone warning.

In terms of construction, the terminal incorporates wood, metal, glass and concrete, with extensive use of timber to minimise the environmental impact of the project. The façade integrates over 3,000 square metres of motorised openings, and according to the design specifications, 51% of its surface can be opened. Another clever solution is the hollow-core slab, which saved about 140 cubic metres of concrete thanks to recycled plastic formwork elements inserted into the structure.

hotovoltaic panels complete the strategy, forming part of a broader decarbonisation plan that, according to Airport Carbon Accreditation, had already halved operational and electricity-related emissions by 2023 compared to 2014, with solar energy covering nearly 30% of the airport’s energy needs.

Opening image: Aia Life Designers, La Réunion Roland Garros Airport Terminal, 2024; Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France. Courtesy of Aia Life Designers