Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P.

Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Thesis General Guidelines

Rationale

Architectural Thesis is the culminating stage of extensive five-year architectural studies. At this stage, the
students’ acquired skills and knowledge would be comprehensively challenged by actual architectural
research and/ or design endeavor.

In our desire to uplift the conditions of people’s lives through balanced development between the natural
and built environments, the focus of architectural thesis must gear towards the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable
future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change,
environmental degradation, peace and justice. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a
global blueprint for dignity, peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and
improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member
States in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which set out a 15-year plan to
achieve the Goals. Today, progress is being made in many places, but, overall, action to meet the Goals is
not yet advancing at the speed or scale required. 2020 needs to usher in a decade of ambitious action to
deliver the Goals by 2030.
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Research Topic Selection

From the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the student researcher may identify topics among the
following areas:
1. Architectural Planning and Design
- site selection and site analysis
- space programming
- building volume design
- structural and construction conceptualization
- building utilities conceptualization
- building material management conceptualization
- interior and landscape design
- acoustic and lighting design
2. Building Material Innovation and Production
- introduction of new building material
- prototype of the innovated or newly introduced material with necessary standard
tests to prove its significance and usage
- Proper prototyping documentation
3. Building Construction and Technology System
- new or innovated construction method or system
- system anatomy and model including complete documentation
4. Building Laws and Professional Practice
- issues and concerns in present day building laws and professional practice
norms
- present the necessary statistical course of actions
5. Architectural Heritage Preservation and Restoration
- heritage building or site preservation and restoration scheming
- authenticated and verified data to establish the necessity of preservation and
ensure the direction of restoration plans.
6. Urban and Community Development Planning
- urban planning, urban renewal and community development planning
- comprehensive output in parallel to an actual urban design and community
development plan

Presentation Techniques and Minimum Requirements

Abstract
Summary of the entire contents of the thesis, i.e the scope of the study, research problems investigated,
research design, major findings, results, conclusion and recommendation in one-page, with 3-5 keywords

Acknowledgement
Expression of gratitude to all the people who became instrumental for the success of the research.

Dedication
Devotion with high honor to the person or persons significant to your research endeavor.

Part I The Problem and its Background

Chapter I.1 General Overview

A short description of of the topic which provides general information about it, rather than the details

Introduction
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Includes the initial information from general to specific, it should attract the attention of readers.

Background of the Study

Gives the actual information of the study and provides the detailed setting or condition.

Statement of the Problem

Cites the topic under investigation, outlines the research questions, (at least 3-5 only). Each research
question shall be “answered” under the Conclusion.

Project Goals, Objectives and Strategies

Goals are overarching principles that guide the research endeavor, specifically general in nature.
Objectives are statements of purpose that serve to guide the activities of research, specific in nature.
Strategies are overall plans for conducting a research study.

Significance of the Study

States the relevance of the study with respect to the key stakeholders, i.e. to the students, to the
teachers, to the community, etc.

Scope and Limitation

Scope is the discussion of the exact coverage of the research paper while limitation is the discussion of
the items which will no longer be included in the study.

Assumption
Certain elements of the research that are understood to be true.

Conceptual Framework
Illustrates what you expect to find through your research, defines the relevant variables of the study and
maps out how they might relate to each other.

Definition of Terms
List of all significant “words” with “operational” meanings (how these words are used in the study)

Acronyms
Words formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a
compound term and is usually pronounced as a single word
Chapter I.2 Review of Related Literature and Studies

Related Literature are notes, readings related to the topic/subject matter. Related Studies are current
research work similar to your research topic, ideally from similar foreign study/research and local
(Philippines) study/ research. At the end of each article/study, there should be a synthesis on how the
gathered literature and studies relate to your own research.
*must be at least 5-year old articles/studies
*do not copy-paste articles/ studies
*limit to maximum of 20 pages only!

Chapter I.3 Research Methodology

Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and
analyze information about a topic, it section allows the reader to critically evaluate the overall validity and
reliability of the research.

Research Design
Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher.
Discussion of the strategies to integrate the various components of the study in a coherent and logical
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

way, thereby, ensuring you will effectively address the research problem. Research design can be broadly
classified into quantitative and qualitative:
Qualitative research aims to give answers to why and how something is happening.
Qualitative research most commonly revolves around open-ended survey questions and highly
descriptive answers that are hard to quantify and express through numbers. It’s a great way to
collect more complex information and explore people’s thoughts and behavior.
Quantitative research aims to give answers to questions like who, what, when, where,
and how many? Due to the fact that they use close-ended questions, the results of quantitative
surveys can easily be transformed into numbers, stats, graphs, and charts. This is why
businesses often use quantitative surveys to learn about their customers and drive their decisions
using the data obtained. It’s often used to find ideas, formulate predictions, and explain the
numbers.
You can further break down the types of research design into five categories:
1. Descriptive research design: In a descriptive design, a researcher is solely interested in
describing the situation or case under their research study.
2. Experimental research design: Experimental research design establishes a relationship
between the cause and effect of a situation.
3. Correlational research design: Correlational research is a non-experimental research
design technique that helps researchers establish a relationship between two closely connected
variables.
4. Diagnostic research design: In diagnostic design, the researcher is looking to evaluate the
underlying cause of a specific topic or phenomenon.
5. Explanatory research design: Explanatory design uses a researcher’s ideas and thoughts
on a subject to further explore their theories.

Research Locale
Discussion of the place or setting of the study, describes in brief the place where the study is conducted.

Research Tools
Instruments/ techniques to be used to gather significant data. Case Studies, Checklists, Interviews,
Observations, and Surveys or Questionnaires are all tools used to collect data. Prepare survey
questionnaires based on the objectives of the research. Sample survey questionnaire:
A. Respondents Profile (Gender, Age, occupation, etc…)
B. Specific questions leading to the data needed (review research objectives under Chapter I)
*In order to determine quantitatively the responses’ answers, assign a numeric value for each answer to
question. Example: from 1 to 5, 1 least vs 5 most (Likert Scale).
Interview questionnaire may also be employed. Archival data/ blueprint may also be used.

Population and Sampling

Population (total number of a certain group) Sample population (Sampling) is a representative number
only of the actual “population.” Refer to “sample population calculator” via google)

Data Gathering Procedures

The process of collecting and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic
fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
Example: Discussion of the process in conducting the survey. Where is the location of the survey, how
the survey questions are distributed to the respondents (via email, face to face, online)?

Statistical Treatment
Application of any statistical method to your data. Treatments are divided into two groups: descriptive
statistics, which summarize your data as a graph or summary statistic and inferential statistics, which
make predictions and test hypotheses about your data.
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Example: Use of simple “Descriptive Statistics” in analyzing the data (answers to the survey questions).
You may use the “mean” or average in determining the summary of responses/answers to survey
questions), then rank the summary responses.

Chapter I.4 Results and Discussion

Study Results normally refer to direct answers to your research questions that you generate from the
data. Discussion is about interpreting your study results. When you discuss the study results, you relate
your study findings to previous studies; you contextualize the contribution of your study

Presentation of Collected Data

Presenting data involves the use of a variety of different graphical techniques to visually show the reader
the relationship between different data sets, to emphasize the nature of a particular aspect of the data or
to geographically 'place' data appropriately on a map (Presentation and Discussion of the Survey/
Interview/ Archival results. Use graphs/ charts to show the data then analyze each graph/data.)

Summary of Findings and Analysis

The finding should clearly reflect the significant results of the study, providing a discussion for each of
the findings, using anchor verbiage that justifies rather than distorts the intent of the findings, cite the
importance or relevance of the findings based on the aim and scope of your study.

Need Analysis
A systematic process for determining and addressing the needs, or "gaps," in order to build a
comprehensive justification of the problem identified.

Qualitative or Quantitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis seeks to answer questions about why and how people behave in the way that they
do. It provides in-depth information about human behavior. Quantitative analysis is “explaining
phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in
particular statistics).

Chapter I.5 Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion states the answers to the research questions under Chapter I. Answer the questions one-by-
one as the conclusion. Answers to the questions are based on the result/findings under Methodology. A
conclusion does not introduce new ideas; instead, it should clarify the intent and importance of the
paper. Recommendation suggests the key points that may be addressed in future research endeavors
that are not taken up in your research.

Part II Research Focus and Innovation

Discussion of the specific subject matter of your discipline. Innovation contains the new concepts and
ideas applicable to the subject matter.

Chapter II.1 Rationale

Contains the overview or general background.

Chapter II.2 Principles and Relevance to the Project

Identified ideologies with respect to their contribution to the project

Chapter II.3 Application to the Project

Strategies on how the identified principles can be applied to a specific project.

Paper Format
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Page Layout Margins 1” at top, bottom and right and 1.25” at left.

Orientation Portrait

Size 210mm x 297mm (A4)

Substance 24 white bond paper

Font Tahoma Regular size 10 for general text

Paragraph Justified alignment

Spacing Before 0 pt, After 0 pt

double line spacing

Tabs 0.5”

Page Number Bottom-right corner of page

Font Tahoma Regular size 10

Presentation Initial 1 set black cover hardbound with plastic cover

& CD soft copy
Due on __________________
Final 3 sets black cover hardbound with plastic cover
& CD soft copy
Due on __________________

Book Binding

Last Name Thesis Proposal Title Month/ Year

For Tables label it this way:

Table No.
Title (Font Tahoma Bold size 10)
Label Label
Data Data
Data Data

Thick line 1.5 pt Thin line 1.0 pt

Line spacing: Single Space before: 0 pt Space after: 0 pt
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

For figures, illustrations, graphs:

21/ 51% 20/ 49%

Male Female
Figure No.
Title (Font Tahoma Bold size 10)

References

Journals
Author, A.A., B. B. Author and C. C. Author (year). Full title of article. Name of the journal, Volume
number (number), pages.

Books
Author, A. A., B. B. Author and C. C. Author (year). Full title of article<optional> Editor, A. A.<optional>.
Book Title, edition, Publisher, Place of Publication.

Oral Defense

Time Limit 60 mins. (1 hr.): 10 mins. for preparation 20 mins. for presentation and
30 mins. for discussion (question and answer)
Visual Aids Power Point, drawing Boards, Scale Model
Attire Formal/ Business suit
Refreshment Shall be prepared by the student proponent
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Research-based Title &

Project-based Title
(No Header/Footer)

A Thesis Presented to the

School of Architecture, Industrial Design and the Built Environment
Mapúa University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Course Code: Architectural Design ___ for the
Degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Submitted by:

First Name M.I. Last Name

Student Number

Submitted to:

Ar/ EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Thesis Adviser

Month Year
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

(NO PAGE NUMBER)

APPROVAL SHEET

This is to certify that I have supervised and read the preparations of the thesis entitled “
” prepared by First Name M.I. Last Name and that
the said thesis has been recommended for acceptance and approval for oral defense by the Thesis
Evaluation Committee.

__________________________________________
Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep
Thesis Adviser

As members of the Thesis Evaluation Committee, we certify that we have reviewed and examined this
thesis with a grade of BOLD and hereby recommend its acceptance as a partial fulfillment of the
requirements in Course Code: Architectural Design 11 for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

__________________________________________
Ar. First Name M.I. Last Name
Panel Member 1

__________________________________________
Ar. First Name M.I. Last Name
Panel Member 2

__________________________________________
Ar. First Name M.I. Last Name
Panel Member 3

This thesis is hereby approved and accepted by the School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Built
Environment in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

__________________________________________
Gloria B. Teodoro, fuap, piep
Dean, School of AR-ID-BE
Mapua University
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

TABLE OF CONTENTS (no Header/Footer)

Title Page
Approval Sheet ii
Abstract (Maximize 1-page: general background/ scope, research questions, iii
Methodology, Conclusion, Recommendation)
About the Author (with photo) iv
Acknowledgement (1-page) v
Dedication
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Appendices
Part I The Problem and its Background
Chapter I.1 General Overview
Introduction
Background of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Project Goals, Objectives and Strategies
Significance of the Study
Scope and Limitation
Assumption
Conceptual Framework
Definitions of Terms
Acronyms
Chapter I.2 Review of Related Literature and Studies (MAX 20 PAGES)
Related Literature
Related Studies/ Projects
Chapter I.3 Research Methodology
Research Design
Research Locale
Research Tools
Population and Sampling
Data Gathering Procedures
Statistical Treatment
Chapter I.4 Results and Discussion
Presentation of Collected Data
Summary of Findings and Analysis
Need Analysis
Qualitative or Quantitative Analysis
Chapter I.5 Conclusions and Recommendations

Part II Research Focus and Innovation

Chapter II.1 Rationale
Chapter II.2 Principles and Relevance to the Project
Chapter II.3 Application to the Project

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Part III Site Identification and Analysis

Chapter III.1 Site Selection Process
Criteria for Site Selection
Site Option Description
Site Selection and Justification
Architectural Thesis Ar/EnP Junar P. Tablan, PhD, uap, piep

Chapter III.2 Site Evaluation and Analysis

The Macro Setting
The Micro Setting
Related Laws and Ordinances
Chapter III.3 Site Development Options
Micro Site Analysis
Proposed Site Development Plan

Part IV Architectural Design Translation

Chapter IV.1 Design Program
Problem Diagnosis
Design Criteria
Design Concept
Design Considerations
Space Programming and Space Allocation
Behavioral Analysis
User Analysis
Organizational Structure
Functional Zoning
Program Matrix/ Diagrams (Adjacency/ Interrelationship/
Circulatory)
Chapter IV.2 Concept Development
Architectural Concept (Space & Form Evolution)
Structural Concept
Utility Concept
Chapter IV.3 Synthesis
(at least 3-plan schemes)

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Chapter IV.4 Presentation drawings (Min. Scale 1:200)

(may use A-3 size paper
Concept Board
Perspectives (Exterior & Interior)
Site Development Plan
Floor Plans
4 Elevations
2 Sections
(Other Drawings as necessary)

Appendices
Related Documents/ Attachments
Consultation Sheets
Permit to Deliberate
Jury Comments
Letters
Certificates
Actual Photo of Deliberation
Others

References (use APA FORMAT)

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