AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
COURSE CODE & TITLE : ARC 301; ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III (4 Units)
SESSION & SEMESTER : 2022/2023 SESSION; FIRST SEMESTER
Synopsis: Public, Institutional buildings and complex design projects. 
Students are expected to carry out case studies with proper analysis of existing
situation. Public and Institutional Buildings as building type; their chief characteristics and
design requirements; siting and environmental considerations; function; forms; planning and
design considerations; design evaluation. Emphasis on the student understanding of the
elements of architectural design, liveability of habitable units, and other building design
criteria. Project submission to include Brief, space analysis and schedule of accommodation,
functional analysis, computer generated 3Ds and Presentation of individual design
solutions.  

ARC 301: CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT ON PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS

Each student is expected to do a thorough case study of one of the following types of Project
during the remaining part of the holidays and submit a report in theory and drawings in the
first week of resumption.
S/ PROJECTS / CASE STUDIES TO BE
NAMES
N CARRIED OUT AT HOME
1 ADEWEMIMO Olakusehin & BASIL Marvelous Conference/ Community Centre
2 CHUJOR Emmanuel & EYITAYO Timilehin Cultural Museum
3 GANAGANA Barisuka & GEOFFERY Barisuka Shopping Mall
4 IDORENYIN Victory & MEYEH Annabel School of Nursing
5 NWUDE-ANIKE Vivian & OBIADAZIE Joel Primary Health Centre
6 OBOT Edifon & OGUNDEJI Tosin Neighbour hood youth centre
7 OGUNLEYE Funke & OKOSUN Christine General hospital
8 OLATUNJI Temitayo & OLOGE Prince Indoor sports complex
9 OLU-ADEBOTE Derrick & ONUORA Ogechukwu Regional library / University Library
10 ONYIBE Daniel & OZOR Brian Waste recycling centre,
11 SADIQ Safiq & SARKIN-PAWA Kabir Cassava processing factory
12 UCHENNA Immanuella & YUSUF Abdullahi Senior staff recreational centre,
13 Entertainment studio design
14 Palm kernel processing factory.
15 Community Farm Stead
NOTE: Where the exact typology is not available in a location, a more related
or closest typology should be worked on for the assignment.

ESSENTIALS OF CASE STUDY IN ARCHITECTURE

When students begin studying Architecture at a University, the first thing that they are
supposed to become excellent at, is doing a documentation or a case study. It could be a case
study of a small village, town, a villa, a bus-stop, or a high-rise commercial or residential
building. A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, incident, or
community. Other ways include experiments, surveys, or analysis of archival information
PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING A CASE STUDY
Case Study is the study of a particular case that is similar to the topic of design project to help
understand the various aspects needed to be considered while designing.
Both sketches, formal drawings, pictures and discussions on the merits and demerits
encountered by the users of the existing products/structures will be necessary for the reports
to be submitted.
The following issues are therefore very important in the compilation of the necessary spaces
and materials, based on their functionality in the project under consideration.
ELEVEN MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS IN ANY CASE STUDY
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 behaviour and requirements: Studying the functioning of a particular place, say
a Factory, 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, will help you figure out if the requirements that are
provided are adequate and the 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 analysed.
4. Form and Function
Analysing 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, a Factory building should not end up looking
like a Museum or a Disco joint. Some other Architects might disagree with that
philosophy with the feeling that the function of a structure can change or be changed.
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.
6. Site Planning and Landscape detailing
Refer to the considerations for the different aspects of site planning in greater detail.
7 Structural details such as Column& Beam Design, Steel and Composite structures
Understanding and analysing the structural details is also important. For example, large
span structures such as Auditorium or factories use trusses or heavy I-section steel
beams and sometimes shell-roofing that involve construction of Ring beams whereas in
small span structures, reinforced concrete construction is used.
8 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 analysed.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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)
Conclusions
i Conducting a case study is hard work. Sometimes, it is so small, it could be done
in days, but on other occasions, it takes weeks to document and compile all the data.
ii It involves going on-site, meeting and taking to people, lots of traveling, plenty of
photography, and some fun. It is the most important of the assignments you might get as
an architectural students.
iv This is where you learn from reality, actual stuff, as opposed to only theoretical
knowledge. Looking at places first hand  and documenting information would give you
many insights and ideas and let you peep into the minds of professional architects with
several years of experience and improvisation to design and create incredible
structures.