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Contents

 Topic Categories

SESSION I – BRIEF PHASE

 Selection Of Topic

The Road Map to Thesis………….  Writing Synopsis

SESSION 2 –STUDY PHASE

 Case Study
For B.Arch students  Concept

SESSION 3 – DESIGN PHASE

 Site Study
 Schematic drawings
 Special Study
 Detailed drawings
 Synthesis
 Presentation

Conducted by

ARCHITECTURAL THESIS ???? How to work on a Thesis Project ?

The architecture thesis is a culmination of the 5-year

 The mental attitude of the
degree and is meant to highlight all the skills and
student.
knowledge one has acquired during the entire course.
 His understanding of

Objectives of a Thesis architecture & his capacity

to portray his ideas in
 To prepare a student to independently handle and present all aspects of an visual/graphic/oral form.
architectural design, from its evolution to final solution in totality.  His grasp of the ‘process of
 To develop the students' ability to handle specific aspects/thrust area of research’.
design relevant to the topic.
 To understand the importance of design process and various techniques
required for a successful presentation of an architectural design.

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How to work on a Thesis Project ? How to work on a Thesis Project ?

 The ability to discuss the

 To get away from the “Drafting Board” style of designing
necessary information from
in two dimensional sterility.
amongst a plethora of
 To design and improve your own living conditions through
literature and knowledge, to
indigenous materials, methods and designs suited to the
define the limitations
your region of study.
without getting lost in the
 Finally, your final presentation should be good. The
world of information.
drawings should be self explanatory requiring few words
 To direct his ideas and
to explain
knowledge for the
 You should consider the examiners as your client and you
betterment of communities
should be confident about your work.
and society at large.

Criteria for choosing a topic Selection of a Topic….

1.The research topic must be one which YOU selected.
 Free to choose a topic of your choice.
2. It must be within your interest.
 Limit the size & scope to the extent that
3. It must be within your specialization.
you can make all necessary drawings,
4. It must be based on your competence to tackle the necessary work.
models & documents required in support of
5. It must be within your financial capability.
your thesis.
6. It should have definable limits to suit your available resources.
7. It must be researchable and manageable.  The topic could be research oriented on a aspect

8. It must be completed within a reasonable span of time. of architectural design but the end product should

9. Its solution must require original, critical and reflective thinking. be a related architectural design solution.

10. It must be significant, important and relevant to the present time and  Do not waste too much time in selecting a topic

situation. and do not allow any pseudo-intellectual to

11. It must offer some kind of return for your efforts. confuse you.

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Selection of a Topic…. Topic Categories….

 A small project will enable you to get into the

 Urban Planning & Transport - Architecture in Motion
details while larger projects have their own
 Airports
limitations of time and procedure.
 MRTS
 You have to restrict the scale of your project
 Integrated Transport Nodal Centre
to enable you to justify detailed design
 Bus Terminal etc.
investigations.
 Cultural Facilities - Place, Culture & Architecture
 If you wish to choose an Urban Design
 Museums
Problem, make sure you study the
 Art Gallery
background of the Urban problem in detail
 Cultural Centers etc.
because that would the major part of your
project.

Topic Categories…. Topic Categories….

 Recreational / Leisure Facilities  Public/Administrative Buildings & Offices

 Auditoriums  Convention Centers
 Theatres & Malls  City Centers
 Sports Facilities  Corporate Buildings
 Theme Parks  IT Offices
 Housing  High Courts
 Sea Facing Luxury Apartments  Hospitality Buildings
 Gated Community  Eco Resorts
 Skyscrapers  Beach Resorts
 Townships  5 star Hotels

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Topic Categories…. Topic Categories….

 Institutional Buildings  Health Care Facilities

 Campus Design  Multi Speciality Hospital
 University Buildings  Trauma Centers
 Residential Schools  Hospice
 IIM,NIT,NIFT etc.  Healing Spaces
 Industrial Buildings  Yoga/Meditation Centers
 Manufacturing Units  Wellness Centres
 Assembling Factories  Spiritual Care Centers
 Garment Factories  Centre for Tranquility

Case Study - Literature

Writing Synopsis….

Writing a Synopsis determines your level of understanding of the chosen topic as your  Before you start with your live case studies, first of
thesis project. all do a complete literature case study.
1. Introduction  Literature case study consists of reading everything
2. Need for the project you can find on the subject. You can refer books in
3. Aim & Objectives a library, use Google to look up research papers,
4. Scope & Limitations of the project check out Standard Code books and statutory
Research Question (if any) laws or from technical journals.
5. Literature studies & Case studies  A literature case study would give you a vague
6. Identification of Project Site idea about your topic.
7. Suggested Methodology  There will be various questions arising in your mind
8. Summary/Conclusions after you are done with your literature case study.
9. List of Sources, Bibliography & References To find the answers to those questions, you will
have to go for minimum two live case studies….

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Case Study Case Study

 As the term Case Study suggests, it is the study of a particular

 Site & Zoning
case that is similar to your topic of design project.
 Doing a case study will help you understand the various aspects  Climatic Analysis
that you have to consider while designing.  Space & Functional Analysis
 Always possibly go for more than two different case
 Form Analysis
studies, because a comparative case study of two or more
different cases is very important and helpful.
 User Analysis
 Being able to provide maximum or minimum requirements in  Material Analysis
your design is very important  Landscape Analysis
 If there are some requirements that you haven’t come across
 Parking & Traffic Analysis
while doing your case studies but you went through it while you
were doing a literature case study, then try implementing those
 Service Analysis
requirements in your design.

Site Study/Analysis Site Study/ Analysis

These include the factors above the ground, below the ground and on the ground, as
 Each site has a unique nature of its own. discussed in the following.

 The purpose for which it is to be used should be clearly Natural Factors

 Geology
understood.
 Topography-slope analysis

 Every site when disturbed takes time to experience the  Hydrography-streams, lakes, swamps
 Soil – classification of types and uses
mutual adjustment of its elements.
 Vegetation
 Wildlife
 For example, the flow of water creates a drainage pattern.
 Climate factors – solar orientation, summer, winter
Many factors are involved in the analysis of the site. winds, humidity, precipitation

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Site Study/ Analysis Site Study/ Analysis

Cultural Factors
Existing land use
 Existing land use – ownership of adjacent property and off-site nuisance
 This implies a survey of the present status of the land-whether it is residential,
 Linkages
commercial, industrial or recreational. The ownership of the adjacent site will also
 Traffic and transit-vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to site.
affect the land being surveyed.
 Density and floor area ratio
Offsite nuisances:
 Utilities – sanitation , water, gas, electricity, stormwater drainage.
 Disturbances from outside and around the site have to be studied.
 Existing buildings
Visual nuisance elements:
 Historic factors – historic buildings and landmarks.
 Power lines, water tower, certain industrial complexes, highways, advertisement
boards, junkyards(waste dumps), etc., are some examples of eye-sore elements that
have to be taken into account.

Site Study/ Analysis Special Study

 Special Study will help you to bring your architectural thesis with a research.
 It will help to strengthen your thesis project with a well-definite design solution.
Possible auditory nuisance:
 It is unique and increases the architectural value.
 Noise produced by heavy automobiles, trains, air traffic etc. and the surrounding
 It can become soul of your whole thesis project.
population has to be studied.
Olfactory nuisance:
Topic From The Field Of Research In Architecture For Special Study
 Dumps, chemicals, other wastes in and around the site have to be taken care of.
Safety Hazards:  The difficulty in architecture to design a residential infrastructure in earthquake-prone

 Severe or sudden changes in landform, such as a steep cliff at the edge of the site areas.

have to be noted.  How to use the latest technology for developing an infrastructure which is disaster-
resistant?
 Ideas to build a house in areas which are most affected by heavy rainfall throughout
the year.

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Synthesis Design Process

o A good design begins with a
 Comprehensive Presentation of the Data Synthesis
good design concept.
Collected
 Formulation of Concepts & Alternative o You’re trying to solve a problem and
 Preliminary drawings and sketches
your concept will lead the way and
showing the basic concept  Communication of Concepts
give you direction for your design
 Generation of alternatives in terms of
Evaluation decisions.
Structural, Functional, Aesthetic etc.
 Review of Alternatives
elements and arrive at a final Design
Solution  Selection of one alternative
 Make use of Graphics, Charts, Statistics
Design
and present them in an organized
manner along with other drawings.  Design details

 Communication Media

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Sample Sheets – CEPT Plan Development

Rehabilitation Centre for Women Offenders

Conceptual Models Sections

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Final Models
Presentation Tips
 When it comes time to present your project, don't feel like you have to
include everything you've worked on into your presentation.
 Pick something that matters most and is evident in the work that you've
produced, and tell a really interesting story about just that.
 "Think happy, positive thoughts before you present – and don't forget to
smile!“
 "Give yourself enough time to practice your talk and get feedback from
your classmates. Be confident and relaxed to enjoy this special moment in
your career!
 Think carefully and imagine how the reviewers will be seated and will
interact with you.
Even if you forget things...never read!
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Presentation Tips
 Show your supervisor your plans and drafts as you produce them – don’t
wait until the last minute
 Identify the various stages of your work- leave plenty of time for each
 Focus on your opening statement about the intent and scope of your
thesis.
 Your presentation has to be designed too!
 The foundation for an excellent final presentation begins weeks in
advance with the preparation of a clear storyboard of the content for
your final set of panels/artifacts.
 Model making will always take twice as long as planned
 Think happy, positive thoughts before you present – and don't forget to
smile!"
Presentation Tips
 Discuss your design process and methods, not just the outcomes. Allow
the critics to gain a glimpse into the "back-end" of your thesis – your
working process, your iterations and experiments, both failed and
successful.
 Be yourself, never try to be anything other than yourself.
Be honest, show your doubts if necessary; reviewers always appreciate
authenticity!
 Never try to have a defensive attitude, listen and answer by increasing
the debate, not by confronting.
 Don't explain what your drawings or panels are able to say themselves.
 Think the way you will start and even more important, the way you will
finish!
 Be relaxed, and your review will be relaxed too."
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