Plug and board

Due to its unique location (on the tarmac) and its particular chronotopy (shelter between two space-time points - waiting and departing), this satellite falls outside the normal grid-based register of its flagship and is transformed into a hybrid element. It was not possible to compete with the grand size and remarkable architecture of the airport. We therefore proposed an object rather than a building.

But anon-standard object - high-tech, design, energy and environmental efficiency, with a contemporary image that would fly to the four corners of the earth to the benefit of Aéroports De Paris. While it borrows its structural and functional building codes, it draws its inspiration from the aerospace object. Its Alucobond fuselage recalls the aircraft parked at its sides, its raised base and perforated metal mesh alleviate its soft flowing lines evocative of aerodynamics. Could it possibly defy the law of gravity?

Behind its soft appearance, this smooth aerial object is a faithful translation of non-standard constraints: of a site (noise, danger of projections, air jets and pollution), of a plot (cramped and highly exposed to the weather) and of a construction site (to be implemented very quickly, within a tight budget). Its roof is treated as though it were a fifth facade as it is visible from the Orly’s galleries and corridors but also from the planes as they take off and land on the runway. Its appearance is therefore essential. The whiteness of the Alucobond cladding, the metallic paint of the concrete slabs and the wide ETFE lens provide valuable transparency; at night, the building will be transformed into a backlit shell, like a dashboard or communication device.

Inside, the space is pleasant, healthy, warm and modern. It meets the standards and expectations of the airport’s international clientele. Its qualities are above all the result of demanding acoustic treatment. The layout prioritises changes in atmosphere. Customer routes are simple and fluid. This large cathedral-like hall is served by a walkway connected to the main airport building.