An airport cooled by natural ventilation

Roland Garros airport on Réunion island opened a new arrivals terminal in 2024 that uses natural ventilation instead of air conditioning, with a specially designed wavy roof that creates low pressure to funnel tropical breezes into the building. Large ceiling fans and adjustable vents work together to reduce the perceived temperature by 4-5 degrees in the humid tropical heat, challenging the conventional assumption that air conditioning is necessary for comfort in warm climates. The project was part of the airport's effort to reduce carbon emissions and successfully proves that sustainable cooling through innovative architecture is feasible.