The airport cooled by nature: how Reunion's Roland Garros terminal avoids air conditioning

At Roland Garros airport on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, the arrivals terminal has been designed to stay cool without relying on air conditioning, using a ceiling structure that funnels a light tropical breeze into the building.

Visitors arriving at the terminal are greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the island's lush green mountains, part of a design intended to connect the building closely with its natural surroundings rather than sealing it off behind climate-controlled glass.

The approach reflects a design philosophy focused on using natural ventilation rather than mechanical cooling systems, an increasingly notable choice for public buildings in tropical climates where air conditioning is typically the default. The airport's design team has framed the project as proof that a large, functional public building can be kept comfortable through passive means such as airflow and shading, rather than energy-intensive cooling.

Reunion's tropical climate, combined with its mountainous terrain, provides natural conditions that the terminal's design has been engineered to take advantage of, directing breezes through the structure to reduce indoor temperatures without artificial systems.

The project is part of a broader interest among architects and engineers in reducing the energy demands of large buildings in warm climates, using design choices that work with local environmental conditions rather than against them.