How a wartime naval station became a tropical architectural marvel
In short: Long before it was a gateway to Mauritius, this site was a strategic Royal Naval Air Station. Today, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport stands as a $306 million feat of ecological engineering, designed to mimic the very nature it protects.
The origins of the airport at Plaine Magnien are rooted in the geopolitical tensions of the 1940s. In 1942, while Mauritius was still a British Crown colony, construction began on a Royal Naval Air Station at Plaisance. Following the conclusion of World War II, the facility was transferred to the Royal Air Force, eventually transitioning into civilian use. This shift toward civil aviation provided a significant economic boost to the island nation.
As the airport evolved, so did its infrastructure. By 1960, the airfield underwent an electric refitting that included new telecommunications equipment and airfield lighting, alongside a runway reconstruction contract. The mid-1980s saw another major expansion to accommodate larger aircraft, featuring a new two-floor terminal with airbridges and a dedicated car park. This era also marked the expansion of regional connectivity, such as the first flight to Rodrigues island on 10 September 1972, which utilized a Twin Otter aircraft.
The most striking transformation arrived with the inauguration of the new passenger terminal in late 2013. Designed by Airport Terminal Operations Ltd (ATOL), the 57,000 square meter structure is modeled after the 'Traveller's palm,' a native tropical plant. The US$306 million project follows the 'Maurice Ile Durable' concept, integrating sustainable technologies like photovoltaic solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and thermo-insulated facades to minimize heat gain. This modern terminal, capable of handling 4 million passengers, includes five boarding gates, one of which is large enough to service an Airbus A380.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
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