ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY UNDER SOLAR INTEGRATION: A VISUAL AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ROOFTOP PHOTOVOLTAIC DISRUPTION IN URBAN ARCHITECTURE OF LAHORE

Abstract

Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in Lahore are typically installed after building completion rather than integrated during the design process, compromising architectural integrity and producing visual and spatial conflicts at street level. Although local regulations such as DHA Lahore’s byelaws on panel height and installation exist, they are limited in scope and do not consistently address architectural integration at the national level. Existing research in Pakistan has predominantly evaluated rooftop PV systems through energy generation, cost and technical performance, while architectural compatibility and spatial quality remain largely unexamined. This study investigates the architectural causes of post-completion rooftop PV problems in Lahore and proposes design approaches that support renewable energy adoption without compromising building design principles.Four objectives guide the research: to examine street-level visual disruption; to assess the impact of panel height on roof usability and appearance; to explore stakeholder perceptions; and to propose design-based recommendations. These objectives inform four research questions concerning visual disruption, spatial and functional impacts, stakeholder opinions, and design integration. A qualitative multiple case study strategy is adopted. Cases were selected based on visible PV installations, location along major roads and variation in architectural style. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires with architects, residents and building owners; semi-structured interviews with practising architects; and photographic documentation from pedestrian viewpoints. Triangulation strengthens the credibility of the findings. Thematic analysis was employed to identify themes including visual disruption, architectural language conflict, roof usability trade-offs and the absence of solar integration in design. Trustworthiness is addressed through credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability, while ethical considerations include informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality and the right to withdraw. The findings are expected to clarify the tension between energy performance and architectural aesthetics in Lahore’s urban context and to offer practical guidance for architects, urban planners and policymakers.