Marseille Provence Airport

Norman Foster delivers new extension at Marseille Provence Airport Terminal 1, bridging the gap between Fernand Pouillon’s 1960’s terminal design and Richard Rogers' 1990’s airside development.

The extension aims to improve passenger journeys through simple, bright, and navigable spaces. The terminal features a new ‘Coeur’ (heart in French) that provides a more cohesive arrival and departure sequence through intuitive wayfinding.

One of the most distinctive features of the Coeur is its inverted beam roof, which includes deep skylight boxes that echo the design of the original Pouillon building. These boxes showcase a combination of bespoke wall panelling and SAS200 concealed grid tiles finished in RAL9007, Grey Aluminium. This dramatic design enhances the natural light that enters the space, greatly reducing the need for artificial lighting. The solution provides Class A sound absorption to demanding, high traffic spaces, with 16mm acoustic pads supplied as standard. The dramatic depth of the skylights also allows for natural ventilation, minimising the need for assisted cooling.