Photovoltaics on Landmark Buildings with Distinctive Geometries

Featured Application This work illustrates that world-class architecture can be coupled with building integrated (BIPV) or building applied (BAPV) photovoltaic (PV) technologies, which can significantly contribute to improve both the architectural quality and the energy efficiency, further promoting their diffusion in the built environment and as virtuous examples for a broader impact to society and investors. This review study, framed in the Work group 4 Photovoltaic in built environment within the COST Action PEARL PV, CA16235, aims to examine applications of integrated and applied photovoltaic technologies on ten landmark buildings characterised by distinctive geometries, highlighting the aesthetics of their architecture and quality of PV integration based on a proposed set of seven criteria. The selected building samples cover a large design diversity related to the quality of PV systems integration into building envelope that could serve as a basis for general guidelines of best architectural and technological practice. After introducing the problem and defining the research methodology, an analysis of ten landmark buildings is presented, as representative models of aesthetics of their architecture, photovoltaic integration and implementation and energy performance. The study concludes with the main characteristics of photovoltaic integration on landmark buildings. The paper is intended to support both engineers and architects in comprehending the convergent development of contemporary architecture and photovoltaic technology, as well as the need for a closer collaboration, sometimes resulting in architectural masterworks that promote the diffusion of photovoltaics to the public.