AIA LD News｜Inauguration of the world's first bioclimatic terminal of its size in the tropics
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© AIA Life DesignersFriday, March 15 saw the opening ceremony for the new terminal at La Réunion Roland Garros airport, the world's first bioclimatic terminal of its size in the tropics. Designed by AIA Life Designers, the project is based on the principle of natural ventilation using the trade winds specific to La Réunion. The result = architecture shaped by a low-pressure canyon, with a spectacular timber structure and lush natural vegetation.
© AIA Life DesignersDuring the speeches, these architectural and environmental choices, the fruit of close collaboration with the client's teams, were widely praised by Mrs. Claire Dreyfus-Cloarec, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mr. Guillaume BRANLAT, Chairman of the Management Board, Richard Nirlo, Mayor of Sainte-Marie, Mrs. Huguette Bello, President of Réunion Region, Mr. Slawomir Tokarski, representative of the European Commission, and Mr. Jérôme Filippini, Préfet de La Réunion, as well as by the 300 guests in attendance.
© AIA Life DesignersTwo and a half years of hard work and an investment of 65 million euros (60% financed by the French government, Réunion Region, and the European Union as part of the FEDER-FSE+ Réunion program). This emblematic structure embodies the Roland Garros Airport’s commitment to innovation and regional development.
© AIA Life DesignersHats off to the hard-working AIA Life Designers teams, co-contractors, subcontractors, and contractors.
Photo © Serge MarizyAWARDS
the highest honor
in engineering sector
in France
2023
French National Grand Prize for Engineering
the project has benefited from the support of the European Union, Société Aeroportuaire ARRG developed exemplary new facilities in the context of climate change, with a target of limiting the final energy consumption of future facilities to 135 kWh per m2 per year.
© AIA Life DesignersTo achieve this feat, the airport drew on the expertise of AlA Life Designers, a multi-disciplinary architectural practice that had to meet a number of challenges. The first of these was to do without air conditioning in a tropical environment. To achieve this, the experts at AlA Engineering relied on trade wind to naturally ventilate the entire extension. In concrete terms, a vast depression canyon was installed in the central part, allowing the baggage delivery hall to be largely traversed by the winds. The result: high hygrothermal comfort for users - with a perceived temperature 4℃ lower-, and energy savings of around 60%, compared with an equivalent building that would be air-conditioned to the same comfort level.
© AIA Life Designers CSTB风洞实验The AlA Life Designers teams have also focused their efforts on adapting to climate change and respecting biodiversity. Cyclonic winds were studied and their mechanisms reproduced and tested in the CSTB wind tunnel. The aim was to increase the overall safety of the extension beyond that required by regulations, in a context of increasing exceptional climatic phenomena, by oversizing certain parts and fastenings. During the construction phase, noise pollution and the use of lighting were also adapted to minimize impact on the environment and biodiversity. Last but not least, AlA's experts carried out an extensive renaturation program to restore the natural areas surrounding the airport.
© AIA Life Designers
Client：
Roland Garros Airporton the island of La Réunion
Project Team：
Architect - AIA Architectes
Associated Architect - Olivier Brabant (Saint-Pierre)
Engineering and economy - AIA Ingénierie
Engineering roads and networks structure -
studies:AIA Ingénierie ; site : Incom (Saint-Denis)
Fluid engineering -
studies:AIA Ingénierie;site:Inset(Saint-Denis)
Environmental expertise - AIA Environnement
Airport expertise - AD-ET (Switzerland)
Landscaping - AIA Territoires
Program：
New terminal next to the existing airportArea：
Extension 13 200 m²Réhabilitation 3 900 m²
Construction Cost：65 M€ HT
Timeline:
Competition 2018Delivery 2024
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