CASE STUDY REQUIREMENTS

LITERATURE CASE STUDY

Before you start with your live case studies, first of all do a complete literature case study. Literature
case study consists of reading everything you can find on the subject. You can refer books in a library,
use Google to look up research papers, check out Standard Code books and statutory laws or from
technical journals.

A literature case study would give you a vague idea about your topic. There will be various questions
arising in your mind after you are done with your literature case study. To find the answers to those
questions, you will have to go for minimum two live case studies….

Always possibly go for more than two different case studies, because a comparative case study of two
or more different cases is very important and helpful.

1. While you are doing your first case study, say a Villa, go for a smaller Villa first so that you can
figure out the basic minimum requirements.

2. In your second case study, go for an extremely lavish Villa so that you are aware of the
maximum requirements you could give.

(Being able to provide maximum or minimum requirements in your design is very important)

If there are some requirements that you haven’t come across while doing your case studies but you
went through it while you were doing a literature case study, then try implementing those requirements
in your design.

11 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ANALYZE IN A CASE STUD

1. Environment and micro-climate
Analyzing the surrounding environment and the micro-climate of that place will help understand
the reason of the orientation of the structure, the kind of roof chosen and the materials used in
its construction.

2. User behavior and requirements Studying the functioning of a particular place, say a Hospital, is
very important; without which you will not be able to figure out the requirements and the area
that should be allotted for each of the requirements. Talking to people working at that place
(Hospital), will help you figure out if the requirements that are provided are adequate and he
area that is allotted is sufficient for its efficient working.

3. Utility and space enhancement

Study of Utilitarian facilities of a particular case is also important. Various measures taken to
enhance a particular space should be analyzed.

4. Form and Function

Analyzing the reason behind the form of that particular building…and how it merges with the
surrounding environment. Form and Function go hand in hand. The form of the building should
be able to convey the function of the building. A lot of Architects say “Form follows Function”.
As an example, an institutional building should not end up looking like a museum or a disco.
 Some other Architects might disagree with that philosophy. They’d say that the function of a
structure keeps changing but changing the form of the building every time its function changes
is not possible. They say, Adopt a “Universal Design Scheme”.

5. Horizontal and vertical circulation

Horizontal circulation consists of elements such as the corridors and lobbies. Vertical circulation
includes elevators, staircases, ramps etc. The efficiency of the placement of these services
should be analyzed.

• Site Planning and Landscape detailing

Refer to the Article on the blog “A Guide to Site Planning“, which deals with different aspects
considered in site planning in greater detail.

• Structural details such as Column and Beam Design, Steel and Composite structures
Understanding and analyzing the structural details is also important. For example, large span
structures such as Auditoriums use trusses or heavy I-section steel beams and sometimes shell-
roofing that involve construction of Ring beams whereas in small span structures, RCC
construction is used.

• Building Services such as Fire Alarm system, HVAC, Water supply systems
The working of Fire Alarm system, HVAC and Water supply systems should be examined and
their space requirements are to be analyzed.

• Design detailing considering the Barrier-free environment

Implementation of the Barrier-free architecture for comfortable access to disabled people. Most
public buildings have mandatory accessibility systems for the disabled. Check out Guidelines to
the Disability Standards for Access to Premises 200X. (Australian law)

• Socio-economic profile of user group

It might also be important to find out the socio-economic profile of the people using the services
so as to determine their requirements and available resources.

• Parking details and standards

Measure the allotted parking area on site, say for ten cars, then calculate the average area for
each car and compare it with the areas specified in TSS (Time Savers Standards).