Photovoltaic system in Locorotondo: 148 kW among trulli and olive groves

In August the Apulian sun reaches its seasonal peak. The same sun that warms the beaches becomes a concrete resource when it turns into clean energy. This is the case of the photovoltaic system in Locorotondo, which Kino Workshop developed together with New Time of Forlì for Sant’Elena Service.

Photovoltaic system in Locorotondo: how it fits into the landscape

The project features a 148 kW system, integrated across roofs and facades in a distinctive architectural context. Trulli and olive groves shape the surrounding landscape, and the project had to respect this visual identity without compromising it. The panel integration accounts for the conical shape of the trulli roofs and the texture of the agricultural landscape around them.

Designing a photovoltaic system in a context like this calls for a precise balance. On one hand, it needs to maximise energy output, making the most of the sun exposure typical of the Apulian summer. On the other, it needs to preserve the character of the landscape, avoiding standardised solutions that would clash with the area’s traditional architecture. Kino Workshop and New Time worked along both lines, looking for a solution that combined the technical component with the landscape one.

The result is a system that generates clean energy for Sant’Elena Service, making full use of the solar radiation that defines summer in Puglia. The project shows how the energy transition can coexist with a landscape heritage of great value, without having to choose between the two.

This project in Locorotondo fits into a broader theme that guides Kino Workshop’s work: making energy efficiency compatible with the identity of the places where it operates. The Apulian sun, in this case, isn’t just a landscape feature: it becomes a measurable resource, with a direct impact on the energy consumption and costs of those who use it.

For anyone evaluating a photovoltaic system in a landscape-constrained context, this project offers a concrete example of how technique and context can find an effective balance.