AR V4505, ARCHITECTURAL THESIS-I

(THEORETICAL STUDIES)
Prof. Antony Kumar Boity,
Session 2019-2020, CSPA,
Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab-140401
— LE CORBUSIER
➤ “If I had to teach
Architecture….I would strive to
inculcate in my pupils a keen
sense of control—unbiased
judgement and of the “how”
and the “why.” I would
encourage them to cultivate this
sense till their dying day. But I
would want them to base it on
an objective series of facts.
Facts are fluid and changeable
especially nowadays, so I would
teach them to distrust formulae
and impress on them that
everything is relative.”
WHAT IS ARCHITECTURAL THESIS ?
➤ Its a culmination of an Architectural undergraduate program.
This is a test to showcase your individual ability in;
➤ Holistic understanding of a design Project in an Architectural
Context.
➤ Contextualisation, research and analysis.
➤ Site Selection
➤ Focused research and application in the design project.
➤ Design Process
➤ Design and research Documents
WHAT IS ARCHITECTURAL THESIS ?
➤ Your Thesis is one project that should integrate all your
learning in last 4 and half years approximately in and out of
college.
➤ This will be a research project.
➤ It begins with a problem, and ends at finding a solution to
that problem.
➤ So you have to recollect all the learning and knowledge that
you have acquired throughout this period of time to come up
with a project that not only feasible, but is also believable and
distinctive.
➤ This will be a work of research and reevaluations.
WHAT IS ARCHITECTURAL THESIS

SITE

PROGRAM
DETAILS

THESIS

RESEARCH INFERENCES
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF A PROBLEM/TOPIC
➤ The first thing that you will encounter is that How do you
come up with a “Problem”?
➤ For that you need to narrow down the topics that interest you
most.
➤ It must be of your interest area so that you can remain
committed enough to complete the job.
➤ It must be within your specialisation.
➤ It must be based on your competence to handle the topic/
project.
➤ It must be remembered that the size of the project should
consider the time frame that you have in hand.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF A PROBLEM/TOPIC
➤ It should be financially manageable.
➤ It should add some value to the existing knowledge.
➤ It should add knowledge to the total knowledge/body of work
of the college.
➤ It should advocate some change in the current order of things.
➤ It should not involve in any hazards of social, cultural or legal
nature.
➤ These may not be the only reasons for selection of any project.
➤ You can have some other reasons as well for selection of a
project. Do not hesitate to discuss.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF A PROBLEM/TOPIC
➤ Type Categorisation
➤ Architectural Relevance & expression
➤ Research Scope
➤ Adaptive Design project Selection
➤ Adaptive Site Preference
➤ Synopsis
SUGGESTED PROBLEM AREAS
➤ Formulation or development of a
project that exist/does not exist
➤ Generation of useful technique data
or technical properties of new
material or process( PhD topic)
➤ Improvement of existing knowledge
➤ New application of an existing
knowledge
➤ Comparative study of two or more
entities or development of an
improved version of an existing one.
➤ Physical Development of a research
work
➤ Documentation
POSSIBLE AREAS FOR SELECTING A PROBLEM
➤ Your thesis, after all, does not just involve research work. It
has to be translated into a structure/solution.
➤ Some key questions can help you determine the areas;
➤ What are the different areas that interests you?
➤ Do you know any organisations( Govt. bodies, Practicing
Architects, Builders etc.) who echo your interest. There
will be a stronger possibility of finding a project with
them.
➤ Do you know any new concept/tech that can be tested as
a solution to understand its feasibility in local condition?
POSSIBLE AREAS FOR SELECTING A PROBLEM
➤ List all the topics. Go through the topics again and again.
➤ Some key questions can help you determine the areas;
➤ What are the different areas that interests you?
➤ Do you know any organisations( Govt. bodies, Practicing
Architects, Builders etc.) who echo your interest. There
will be a stronger possibility of finding a project with
them.
➤ Do you know any new concept/tech that can be tested as
a solution to understand its feasibility in local condition?
POSSIBLE AREAS FOR SELECTING A PROBLEM
➤ A table as here Project Project Project
Criteria
can be used to A B C
zero down for
Data Availability
selection of a
Personal Interest
topic/problem.
Time Frame
➤ Ratings can be
Relevance etc.
applied for
Rating:
different criteria
1. Poor
to consolidate
the 2. Fair
appropriateness 3. Good
of the topics. 4. Very good
5. Excellent
STAGES
➤ Enquiry, Research, Synopsis & Approval
➤ Literature Study(Standards, Bye Laws, Book Case Studies-
Secondary Data, Live Case Studies-Primary Data)
➤ Site Finalisation
➤ Research & Report Compilation
➤ Design Process
➤ Design Documentation, Model as per schedule

Every Thesis has to culminate into a design based project with project
report, detail drawings, models.
SYNOPSIS
➤ Research Project Type & Justify
➤ Establish Goals and Objectives
➤ Gather relevant information
➤ Identify strategies
➤ Feasibility (Case Studies, resources, guidance)
➤ Summarise the program
LITERATURE STUDY
➤ Data Collection
➤ Design Standards
➤ Development Rules and Regulation
➤ Safety Standards and Norms
➤ Case Studies(Literature/Book/Internet- Secondary Data, Live-
Primary Data)
➤ Literature study on factors influencing our design
SITE FINALISATION
➤ Site Criteria
➤ Short list 3 possible sites at least if site is not available
➤ Comparative analysis of site features for all sites for appraisal
➤ Finalise
REPORT COMPILATION
➤ Introduction + Methodology
➤ Compilation of general study inference
➤ Design Data Generation
➤ Site Data
➤ Research Data
➤ Detail Design Brief preparation
➤ Concept and detailed Drawings to be included at the end of
the report.
DESIGN PROCESS
➤ Planning of Individual spaces(Including lighting, ventilation,
orientation etc. considering climatic factors for thermal and
visual comfort)
➤ Planning of Zones with Services
➤ Incorporation of Material Structure and technology
➤ Conversion of Zones into 3 dimensional spaces/volumes
➤ Site Zoning(Ingress/ Egress, Road Network, Building Blocks,
Parking, Services, Landscapes.
➤ Massing Study
➤ Conceptualisation, schematic drawing options.
DESIGN PROCESS: SCHEMATIC DRAWING OPTIONS
➤ 2d, hand sketched drawings, with free hand rendering with
Site plan, Floor plans, Elevations, Sections and 3d Views in
appropriate scale.
➤ Floor Plans should have columns with structural logic,
orientation, furniture layout, door/window openings, room
dimensions and labelling.
➤ Topographical Plan if required
➤ Site Plan should have orientation, dimensioned internal/
external roads, building blocks, parking lots, service flow,
adjoining areas, landscapes, and natural features.
➤ 3d model
DESIGN PROCESS: DESIGN DOCUMENTATION
➤ Rendered Floor plans, with orientation, walls, structural,
systems, furniture layout, dimension of rooms, labelling for
rooms, landscapes etc.
➤ Topographical Plan
➤ As explained earlier properly drafted
➤ 3d Model, Views and presentation
THESIS TYPES
PROGRAMMATIC CONCERNS
PROGRAMMATIC CONCERNS
SOCIO-CULTURAL
HISTORICAL
HISTORICAL
TECTONIC/ DESIGN BUILD
TECTONIC/ DESIGN BUILD
CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
TYPOLOGICAL
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION
THEORETICAL