When Architectural Design Unveils the Ethical and Aesthetic Value of BIPV: The Santa Verdiana Demo Case

The integration of renewable energies in architectural design represents a pivotal step towards achieving Zero-Emission Buildings (ZEB) and decarbonising the EU’s building stock by 2050, a focal point emphasised within the revised Energy Efficiency Directive and Renewable Energy Directive by the European Commission. Active solar technologies such as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) not only boost the energy transition towards European goals, but significantly contribute to climate change mitigation without compromising the original typological-functional attributes. Today, BIPV products are increasingly considered as construction elements, aiming to be aesthetically pleasant, multi-functional, and cost-effective. The need to introduce nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB) in architecture, along with the concept of greening cities and addressing contemporary challenges, has led designers and builders to investigate innovative technologies and products with increasingly high-performance levels, including innovative PV materials, and more inclusive and sustainable approaches. This contribution aims to demonstrate how the adoption of BIPV solutions enhances the built heritage from social-educational, architectural-aesthetic, and energy standpoints. Through the experience of the University of Florence and the demonstration case of Santa Verdiana, the paper will describe the architectural design and results of integrating an innovative photovoltaic technology and BIPV solution in the framework of a pilot renovation project. The most recent technological developments in the field of BIPV will be analysed, exploring how these can be used to improve the aesthetic and functional integration of photovoltaic panels in existing buildings. The results obtained in terms of energy production, energy savings, and social and aesthetic impact highlight the positive potential of integrating photovoltaics into existing architectural structures, demonstrating how this practice can significantly contribute to the sustainability, architectural quality, and social well-being of communities.