'We didn't need air conditioning': the airport cooled by natural ventilation

Roland Garros airport on Réunion island opened a new arrivals terminal in 2024 that deliberately rejects mechanical air conditioning in favor of passive cooling. The roof is curved into opposing waves that create a central “canyon,” producing a low-pressure funnel that draws the island’s tropical breeze through adjustable side vents. Large 7.5 m ceiling fans distribute airflow, with designers targeting about 1 m/s so indoor air temperature matches outdoors while perceived temperature falls by roughly 4-5°C in 30°C humid conditions. The project began in 2016 as part of a carbon-reduction push and adapted local vernacular strategies - orienting buildings to wind and using central corridors - scaled up for an airport.

The terminal cost €75m (about €60m for the building, €15m for baggage systems) and delivers significant operational benefits: roughly €150,000 saved annually in energy bills, around 60% lower energy use than a comparable air‑conditioned building and carbon emissions reduced by about eightfold. Staff report improved comfort and fewer illness issues linked to recycled cold air. Limits are acknowledged: the approach requires clean outdoor air and readiness to seal the building during cyclones, so it’s less applicable to polluted, densely built cities unless broader behavioral shifts away from constant air conditioning occur.