Architect behind Abu Dhabi and Charles de Gaulle airports dies
▶ Among Paul Andreu’s other famous projects was the ‘Giant Egg’ theatre in Beijing
Paul Andreu, the famed French architect behind the Abu Dhabi International Airport, has died at the age of 80.
Andreu was an expert on airport design and worked on about 40, including Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Cairo International Airport and Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport.
He completed several large projects in China, such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and designed the French terminal of the Channel Tunnel, the rail link which connects England and France.
Charles de Gaulle opened in 1974 and the circular shape of the original terminal influenced the design of many airports across the world, including Abu Dhabi’s. Abu Dhabi Airport opened in 1982 to replace Al Bateen, which now serves mainly private and charter jets.
“Although it is a medium-sized terminal, it has a lot of aircraft all centred around the satellite, so that planes empty, fill up and then leave as quickly as possible,” was how the Abu Dhabi project was described by Andreu’s team.
The star of the original terminal is the beautiful curved ceiling at the circular waiting area near the arrival and departure gates.
Passengers enter the area through a sloping walkway that slowly reveals the design.
The ceiling drops downwards and is covered in lime green and blue tiles that form an Islamic pattern. The airport has been expanded but the original terminal is unlike any around the world.
Deborah Bentley was Abu Dhabi representative for the Royal Institute of British Architects from 2011 to 2014.
“The architecture of the majority of Abu Dhabi’s transport buildings have celebrated the experience of travel,” Ms Bentley said. “Al Bateen airport building has a beautiful, elegant tapered arcade of concrete columns.
“Terminal 1 at the airport by Paul Andreu has unique spaces, from the tented ceiling in the departure and check-in area to the amazing mosaic ceiling at the arrival and departure gates.”
Andreu was born in Gironde, south-west France, in 1938. He was a member of the prestigious Academie des Beaux-Arts and was also the recipient of the National Grand Prix in Architecture in 1977.
Despite a notable career across several decades, Andreu is most associated with Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Planes connect with circular buildings that surround a central circular waiting area, and the design reflects a place of exchanges between road and air.
Andreu was also involved with the expansion of the airport.
In 2004, several people were killed when one of the terminals collapsed.
Andreu was reportedly so upset by the event that he stopped working for a time.
Among the many tributes for Andreu, who died on Thursday, was one from Paris Aeroport, which oversees operations in the French capital’s two airports.
“He designed the terminals millions of passengers are walking through every day,” it said.