At the arrivals terminal at Roland Garros Airport on Réunion Island, travelers stepping off flights are greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows framing the lush green mountains of the French Indian Ocean territory, rather than the mechanical hum and icy chill of traditional air conditioning. Situated just off Madagascar in the tropical zone south of the equator, this territory relies instead on a light tropical breeze, engineered directly into the building’s structural design.
Opened in 2024, the arrivals terminal represents a departure from modern architectural norms in tropical climates. The project’s genesis dates back to 2016, when airport management launched a wider initiative to curb carbon dioxide emissions. Marc Delanoë, then leading the airport’s environmental and energy team, resolved from the outset that the new infrastructure would eschew mechanical cooling entirely.
“I took on the responsibility to prove to my management that not using air conditioning was feasible,” said Delanoë, now the airport’s sustainable development director. “So, from the start, we never thought of this building having air conditioning being an option. It was a risky bet, but the further we went with our studies, the more we realised that we were right.”
Architectural Ingenuity and Wind Engineering
To achieve this without mechanical assistance, the airport partnered with lead architect AIA Life Designers alongside local architect Olivier Brabant, whose expertise in tropical maritime climates proved crucial. The resulting terminal features a distinctive roof that curves upward from each long side of the rectangular structure in gentle waves. Rather than meeting in the middle, the roof sections terminate abruptly to form a central “canyon.”
This structural geometry creates an area of low pressure that naturally funnels wind into the building through adjustable vents on each side, regulated according to daily weather conditions. To enhance internal airflow, ceiling fans with a 7.5-meter (24.6-foot) diameter circulate the air. During Réunion’s wet summers from November to April—when humid heat reaches 30C (86F)—the resulting indoor breeze drops the perceived temperature by four to five degrees, matching the comfort levels typically achieved by conventional air conditioning.
During drier winter months, when coastal daytime temperatures drop to 25C and below, less air is allowed to flow in. When cyclones threaten the island, the entire structure can be sealed shut.
“It is precisely this pitfall – understanding summer comfort solely through the lens of indoor temperature – that we want to dismantle, a pitfall that traps us in the logic of air conditioning as the only answer to comfort requirements,” said Éric Bussolino, engineering and environment director at AIA Life Designers. The firm’s objective centers on maintaining an indoor air temperature identical to the outdoor environment while generating a steady airflow of 1 meter per second to manage perceived warmth.
Drawing on Ancestral Island Traditions
The engineering team did not look to futuristic technologies to solve the challenge of tropical heat, but instead examined local precedents. Traditional housing on La Réunion historically utilized the natural direction of wind, incorporating central corridors and strategically operated windows and doors to regulate internal climate.
“You have to channel the air, play with the elements … That’s exactly what our ancestors did on La Réunion,” Delanoë said. “They built houses according to the direction of the wind, with a central corridor, and they opened the windows or closed the doors depending on the amount of air that they wanted to let in.”
Local architects have been using natural ventilation systems on the island for offices, libraries, and a university amphitheater designed by Brabant. Applying these concepts to an international airport required scaling up the approach.
Substantial Economic and Environmental Dividends
Building the arrivals terminal cost €75m, of which €15m went on a new baggage sorting system and €60m on the building, said Delanoë. Two years into its operation, the facility has delivered financial and ecological returns.
The airport saves €150,000 annually in energy bills. According to AIA Life Designers, these figures translate to an energy reduction of roughly 60% compared to a conventional, air-conditioned building, while carbon emissions are lower by a factor of eight.
For staff members working within the terminal, the natural environment offers benefits over standard office environments. Delphine Robert, who leads the local tourism board’s welcome team and works in the terminal weekly, noted a contrast to typical workplaces.
“It’s very airy. It’s comfortable – a lot of light, the ventilation is optimal,” Robert said. “I find it better working in this building, because I am often sick. And that’s the result of air conditioning, which is very strong in offices. So that’s why it’s more pleasant to work in a building where the air circulates, but it is natural.”
As architectural firms worldwide grapple with the carbon footprint of global travel infrastructure, Roland Garros Airport stands as a proof of concept—demonstrating that respecting regional climates can yield both operational savings and architectural elegance.
