k Ht comes fo doing a B. Arch,
Thesis, students are usually
bontronted with fats of
confusions and ditemmas. This article has
tried to cover some of ne commonly raised
‘issues but at the same time olsoiais that
the issues are exhaustive and complete.
This article is based on the conversation
With the people associated with 8. Arch,
Thests Program in various architectural
colleges in Kathmandu. The views
presented by the speakers are
straightforward and are presented in the
form of 2 discourse without editing vrei
flavor. For the sake of clarity, readers are
advised that the ante is to be read as @
whole and not in parts. The opinions
expressed in this article are endorsed
speciticaly by the respective «niervieweo,
Any opinion altering those presented in
this article are equally welcome for the
enelit of B. Arch, education and will be
‘bubiished in further issues of Vaastu,
B.Arch, Thesis - what is it?
Thesis in B.Arch, Program has been a
mandatory requirement as a partial
‘ulfttment in getting the Bachelor degree in
Architecture. It is only in the faculty of
architecture that the thesis program has
een introduced in Bachelor iovel. Down
the fines, there are opinions on what it ts,
why it 18 called thesis, and what its
‘implications im architecture education ave
Ac, Bibhutiman Singh gives a rather
‘conceptual commentary on B.Arch. Thesis
~ "Architecture is one of the subjects where
the amount of indeterminacy is high wile
‘echnicality is less. That is why students are
Normally stuck when it comes to transiate
indeterminate ideas into communicable
‘erms. Architecture is a mysterious subject
in which much of intution and subjective
factors are involved. Thus, on an abstract
philosophica! level, thesis could be an
allempt to reduce the indeterminacy
percentage and increase the technicality
Percentage to an acceptable fevel so that it
can be communicated to prospective
listener or reader”
On scholar’s terms Prat, Tiwati comments
~"B.Arch. Thesis is basically a design
AN ANNUAL JOURNAL OF AREHITEGTURE:
thesis, Why It is called thesis, might be
because it is the summary of the
acquisition of knowledge gained through
‘whatever the student has leartin last four?
five year period. So why not call it a
project? It might be because in
architecture, the design is unicue; there is
some kind of creativity involved, and the
student needs to phllosophize it in some
‘way but, though tis nat essentially a new
knowledge, it is some kird of new
presentation af idea,"
A. Biresh Shah & Ar. Dipak Pant add,
istorically, in gurukuls, stidents are
required to display their best skls that they
hhave achieved curing their stay. Thesis can
bbe seen in analogy to that culture, Thesis is
also an opportunity to articulate and claily
‘the different issues and ideas betore
Siepping into the actual profession
A, Bijaya Krishna Shrestha shares ~ “is
identtying existing problems and issues in
a given time period. We have te prove and
show that the givon solution is the best
‘one, and for that it needs to be research
based or analysis based. A student of
architecture needs to look at architectural
solution, which includes no: only the
physical environment but also the linkages
of the same with the socio-economic
cuitural-humBn component. The output of
‘thesis might not necessarily be only the
Physical design. It could also have
Concepts and ideas or, in some zases, just
uidelines. The most important part at
thesis is the meaningful contribution it
makes and not the graphics”
On Choosing Thesis Topic
‘Advising that the studants should lake up
‘he topic/subject in which they tool they are
‘good at, Prof. Tiwari says ~ "Though the
choice of thesis topic Is related to what you
have achieved, the project could be
something which you think ycu can do
better. That could be from technology
aspect, structure aspect, services aspect,
design philosophical aspect, some
aesthetic aspect, even elements. If you
‘want to demonstrate that you have learnt 2
Int about 0.9. mathematics in architecture,
then may be geometric planning becomes
the kay in thinking pracess or in Hentiying
the thesis topic. Projects could be bulling
dominated or planning éominated or others
etc. But as this is architectural thesis, it
essentially has to have certain bulding
design component.”
At. Bibhutiman Singh comments that
students are confused in chausing thesis
topic because of the lack of inspiration,
Students do not find any topic inspiring
enough to be taken as thesis topic. inthis
‘mater, professors and teachers have a big
role in helping the student realize thelr area
of interest.
Ar, Purna Krishna Dongal shows what is
being done in Kathmandu Engineering
College, "We have set up a thesis nerforma
sort of questionnaire forthe sludent to
solf-assess his/her fel of intorest and way
(of approach. This isa system derived trarn
foreign university but is useful. Students
sometimes have to explore new topics that
have nevar been tried before. Eg. @
crematorium”
What should be the size of the thesis
project?
There is @ general agreement that poor
emphasis of the academy/department on
size of the project has created @ lot of
Confusion in students. Prof. Tiwari argues —
“Way be that question has come abaut
because there has been 2 general tendoncy
to think of a project as big when it has a
certain sqm. Area which is really riot a
parameter. Very huge som. atea project can
be very smal project in terms of design anc
Ideas, e.g, aircraft hangor where there is
‘whole lot of space but design component
‘might be less. What makes a project tig or
small is Its scope which is not always
elated to planning and organization of
space. it might well be related ta detiling,
‘construction, structures, and some simple
aesthetic philosophies like use of brick or
even product design,
At. Bibhutiman Singh admits ~ “On the
matter of size, college policy or guide's
interest of priory can make a difference
But students have to be guided not
dictated, Even in the small subject you can
{0 into enough detail to justly it as 2 thesis
topic. E.g. Design of green house could be
1200 sq.ft but it might have ather largeISSUE
issues as an eco friendly house or as an
anvironmental house. The area could be
small, but the philosophy behind it could
be garth shattering.”
A Blrash Shab is ile critical about the
rostriction on (ho matter of size, - * The
size is imelavant. It is more viable that
should establish broad performance
tora and allow cortain fexbilty within a
limit, This approach might give interesting
thesis topics. Even small topics can
incorporate intensive research components
and-detailings but may nat fulfill the
minimum limit of built up area set by
faculty. There wil be a risk of distortive
performance in such restrictions. Students
vill jumble all the non-praductive and non
ympatible spaces, just to pet the bull
up space limits,”
Choosing topic in terms of new building
typology
Typology can be in various parameters*
says Prot, Tiwari, “Normally we are taking
about functional typalagy, like shopping
center, school etc, Thatch buildings could
be another typology but in, material
perspective. But whether it addrosses th
issue that the student has in his mind or
not is the most difficult par, 1 don't find
siudents exploring the lopies trom the
perspective - what / am good at. It is the
Tact of life that different people have
cifferent interests. Architecture Is suci 4
wide discipline that you can talk about
social relationships. and you can also talk
about relalion belwean brick and mortar All
of them are there, somninere or the other,
whereas thesis can be related to one
aspect. Lel's say a typology in terms of
nov office systern, Somebody might have
Inesis on secretarial building for Nepal
\Wherner Singha Durbar is a suable kind oF
civil servant oifice for Nepal or nat? You
‘can ask questions and dovelop entirely new
system. You can say thal-there will be no
table & chair sysiem because we have
come ‘rom the culture of sitting on the
float. This does not mean that in modern
times, people have ta sit on floor and work,
but mademism might be related to how
‘you do something in tems of space."
Real vs, Imaginary Project
jects: need not be real, ~ comments
Prot. Tiwari, “They can be hypothetical
also. By hypothetical, they are actually
saying that there is ro client. E.g. if the
Dioject is ‘Monument for Democracy af
Nepa, it might not be just hypatheticat
there right be some conceptual things
invaled,
Students have done their studias in
Ievious years and fiom there they might
v Aga Tu
teain thal the teacher could have defined
the proect beter or they actually di better
but wore unfariy marked because the
teacher was looking for something ase. So
sludents can take-up those projects and
give a second took; redesign the content
{of the project) and redesign the building
also, Many students pick their topics from
cifice allaciments (practicum) because
that is where they are expased to practical
problems that were not dealt in class. Buti
we look at who has don well inthe thesis,
‘we find that those who picked the practical
projects normaly did not da wall because
thay were ral train fo da that — they were
trained to observe the problem but not
necessarily Lo soe it
IF we lok atthe foreign universities, usually
there are two Kinds of projects that are
done well One might be the real project but
clone vary diferente. the student takes
‘he design ofan existing buling and feels
that i can be designed better. The otner
would be ta design radically diferent kind
of building, eg. “Centre tor Raising
Consciousness”. tis not just tying to find
a aiferent & unique name forthe building
but the reflections ean be found in terms ot
form, material, or may be in terms of
composition of spaces also.”
‘8s a thesis process, issues are more
important than the topie ise says Ac
Bijaya Krishna Shrestha, “it can be based
on the current burning Issues and needs
9, Urban disaster management, traffic
chaos, shelter tor people displaced by
aisaster of political problem, earthquake
te.”
On Creativity
Broadly there fs @ common agreement that
in architecture, creativty is not only related
ta built form or aesthetics, as it is
‘commonly thought al. "But students also
have to see’- says Ar. Dipak Pant.” where
they wisi to explore creativity ~ whether it
is the praduct ar the thesis as a process
that he/she is trying to make creative. In
terms of thesis a5 an academic exercise ~if
the idea that is picked at the begining is
Consistently lad Io 2 logical & satisfactory
‘end is what makes it ereative.”
Prof Tiwani further adds ~ "Creativity is
often misunderstoad as being related ta just
aesthotics, form or architectural
philosophical aspects. It could even be
falated to aspects like construction,
technolagies, use of services ofc. E.g. Air
Conditioning (AC) in buildings can be
creatively used in diferent ways. Approach
i an AC engineer might not be creative
because he is not supposed to create but
to apply his technique. But an imaginative
approach will be t start thinking what this
air conditioning is ~ it takes air trom
somewhere, cools i, reshons It or heats i
and throws it somewhere else. The thenry
might be used in planning forms. Some
designers have used fountains as part ol
the building and which is simply & cooing
system af tat AC. They ate not wiling to
play with AC machines. That kind ol
creativity can be appte to all kinds of areas
from graphics to busing services or may
be energy. i we stert thinking that in ture
the buildings wil be energy sensitive and
‘nat just fated to functions ~ a goa thesis
can be done out ofthe idea. The building
will be devised according to how the
energy wil fw. Ep, electrical enerny can
be laid out through cables almost every
‘where, But f we nave other kind of energy
whici does not run through these cables
the whole idea of the building might
change."
Inferring to architectural design, A; Bish
Shab slates thal any architectural create
buuleng is nothing but a product of sinete
effort towards its solutions. Such offorts
give a coherent understanding and
iuenmfication of the problem and ting to
solve it with that knowledge base, i
assists in presenting the solution ina noble
‘way, a creative bulling emerges. I this
fundamental process is lacking in desion,
people resort to articulation of forms and
fancy shapes. The school we designed
Some 20 years ago and to design the same
today as the problems have changed and
so al the solutions wei demand a noble
and creative approach. He tucther
comments ~ "Any foo! can be original:
far more dificult tobe creative. Originally
and creativity are quite diferent things, ny
deliberation towards the bizare forns Is
nothing but an effort to become original ~
it has nothing to-do wih creatity Even a
simple straight building has myriad of
issues that comand creative approach, Tha
ill oF even ostentatious buildings might
shaw the inifference on the designers
part. Bulldings designed wit incteronce
will be treated with indifference by the
users,
Ac Purma Krishna Dongol takes creativity as
being synonymous to innovation and
poinis that Creativity Hes not ie doing
difforent things, but in doing things
aitfernty. He further says that in thesis
pevaling trends have to be. studied and
future projected ~ that is where te eee
approach of the students i required
Ona siifar ine, Ar haya Ksshina Shrestha
agrees that creativity is bringing out a
meaningful conclusion. Creativity can be
searched in how the students nave
identified & analyzed the problems. t thir
‘way of identilying the problems is fine
research methodology i ie, research data
is authentic then their thesis. will
automaticaly be good, I process is good,
AN ANNUAL JOURNAL OF ARGHITEETURE————AN ANNUAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE.
the product should automatically be
creative
On the Role of Guide
Prot. SA Tivari views that guides can affect
the thesis outcome but they will not
materially change it — but they might help
{o crystallize the outcomes. itis the student
who should know how to do it better
because he has chosen the topic thinking
that he wants to show certain things. He
continues ~ “Sometimes thesis can end up
with things with which the guide might
lotally disagree, and even the good
students fai. tt is because the student is
convinced that what he is doing is right
and is so adamant to change that the
system does not recognize his goodness,
E.g. a thesis on something which could
Not be built ar has a lot of structural
problems might be rejecied on structural
{ground but there might be other guides
who think that this 18 the food for thought
for engineers and architect shauld not
bother too much abaut it. The guide's
Impact will be very wide, especially when
‘he student is very weak. He is not to force
‘the student in the direction that he wants,
In the end, he should see to it that the
student gets the respoctable output and is
‘not misled.”
At. Bibhutiman Singh believes that the
‘thesis guide, above al, should be able to
Inspire the student otherwise there is no
feason forthe students fo be enrolled in the
institution, There are open universities these
days, where students got their degree from
distant learning. But they are missing a
‘reat thing which can be achieved from the
live interaction with their guides,
Ar. Bilaya Krishna Shrestha paints to what is
happening in foreign universities. He says —
“Fist thing is the inforrnation, 0.9, library.
joumals etc. are easily available, Besides
‘there are clear guidelines an what students,
teachers and guidas should do. When
these two things are there, it becomes
easier for everyone to take the thesis in the
right course. In some cases, experienced
guides can show the students where 10
{ind the right information or tell them the
areas which need (0 be researched, In
places lke Nepal, where information is hard
{0 got, guides should understand their
responsibilities in helping the students to
bring out a meaning(ul result,”
Ar, Birosh Shah & Dipak Pant think that the
guide allocation to the student by
alphabetical order as problematic. They
propose the idea of broad categorization al
‘the thesis topic, which might help in
allocating the suitable quide to the topic.
On Research
Research component in thesis has been a
Subject of much thought ancl somtimes, 2
matter of great contusion. Prof. Tivari
views ~ “Essentially, research for thesis is
done to know what are some of the
departures in design thal you want to
establish of how you want to start. Eg
case study is one kind oF research method
vwthieh might he very good for typological
buildings. Thete may be many cases tha
student can choose from and learn how
athers have done In case study, the case i
analyzed in some thematic areas, e491
terms of environment, larning, circulation
efficiency or cost or even material
Funotional arrangement sould be another
basis of study, 0.9. the siudy on why
certain rooms ate on ground tloor and
certain on the fist floor might estabiish
‘What the besis for that vertical dispersal is.
Thematic areas could be vatiod like
aesthelic design, construction, oF energy
On that basis you try to evaluate & find out
wat wil be the basis for your design,
Essentially, itis not an evaluation of the
cases but ils conclusions which ean be
used for design purposes. But we shawo
>be anare thai not al designs can be done
by just case stuties, 0.9. far buildings
hich do nol exist thece sng nae yg
ase studies aad which might require a
aitferent kindof study.”
‘x. Bibhutiman Singh takes research as a
matter of reducing the amount of
inceterninacy ancl increasing the level of
communicabilty. E.. it someone takes up
old peoples” home 28 a thesis, i he/she
could just list out cifferont design
parameters based on certain categorization,
@.9. according to the educational level
economic level, level of physica disabiity
or according ta the social ove, then he/she
can take sub catagories for these groups
and get so-many parameters by
permutation and. combination that he/she
wil amie at much clearer terms. This wil
lessen the confusion, and hapetully the
level of confidence wl ise
Because ofthe lack at proper environment
or infrastructure for research, the scope at
individual research in B. Arch Thesis is
doubtful Instead. Singh turns for the
trapdmurn iteration and socialization with
tifferent people and says that it wall bring
cut lot of iieas. He adds ~ “Every thesis
has to have a biy component of
hypothesis, Certain things are assumed
(other things being equal) and based on
that the design solutions are explored
Doing the thesis with cent per cent
authentic data is like taking up 2
professional project. So as to make a thesis
as open as possible and enriched with
vated meanings, te level of indeterminacy
has to be as much as possible.” He advises
that the academy should fosier a lot vf
ISSUE
imagination in the students, because for
the actual practical experimentation the
‘a whale lie ahead of them, On a scho
note, he states that in the profes
architects are bound by circumstances but
they should come to ter
circumstances without
with
ight of thet
hos that they have nurtured during tho
acadomic years.
Being involved with the B, Arch
Curticuluin, Ar. Biresh Shab & Ar. Dipak
Pant view that itis the nature of thesis thal
will dictate the type and area of research,
Ar. Dipak Pant further adds —"From what
hhas been seen so fa, normally the students
ate prone to folow the prescribed paliern
of procedure ~ lilerature review,
‘questionnaire survey, data analysis tc. tis
the problem in the form of question that the
student is trying ta seek the answer, which
might tead the students to a type of
research methodology. There is @ risk
snecilying methodolugy right in the
beginning (even befase specifying the
problem) because later it might become
imperative to cambine various
methodologies to elicit mare autientic
information.”
At, Bijaya Krishna Shrestha says that
research lies in establishing an analytical
framework which is achieved aller
identifying Issues, literature review. case
studies etc. Ai the end of analytical par
Need to come up with three issues
planning and design principles, lesson:
learnt (iterature review and case studies)
and finalized areas for design,
On Gas Study
“Case studies are done to create «utiple
covtdences for the design being done as a
part of research analysis” - says A. Bjaya
krishna Shrestha, “Literature reviow is
general but case stuaies are done. for
specific conditions.” Fam nis past thesis
experience as a supervisor, he comments
“Most students jump tothe case studies as
soon as the thesis topic is finalized, wich
is a wrong practice. Before doing case
studies, students shoulé get acquainted
with two things ~ fst is the issues to be
adiressed for the related thesis topic. and
second is the literature review 40 find out
‘ferent aspects or the important points (0
ok for in the thesis. I is about idontitying
key issues and making a theoretical
analylical framework. This would make
case studies simpler and easy an what ta
do or what to look for; what are the issues
hat need to be explored and wha’
measures are to bo taken,”
‘Apparently, case studies are
misunderstood by the students” — Prof,
Tiwari says ite weary. Most students just
{0 and look at an existing building - that is
v Agaigi Tr ui ISSUE
‘ot @ proper way of doing case study. By
‘efintion, case means the case of a good
design or the case of a horrible ane, He
continues ~ “In research method case
study method is applied only in two
situations: one, when we have many cases
at the same kind. We pick & analyses the
extreme cases - very good ar very bad, not
average ones. The other kind Is wien there
is one single case. Eg. if we have to look at
the tourist behavior in Mangal Bazaar, there
is just one Mangal Bazaar to study,
‘We may enquire why case study became
so much of a fixture of academic
instfution. 18 this the influence by Master
architects? They were the pioneers in the
field, and were supposed to be good.
Unfortunately, today we are fearing from
‘crappy masters’ ~ someone who even
don't do design and that somehow
becomes a case! That's why case studies
are not able to impress these days. Gut if
wo take the extreme case — thal could be of
the master's who did it. E.g, for modern
architectural idioms, you might look at
Gauci’s bulging which might nat appeal to
vou from aesthetic perspective but what
might appeal to you is his time,”
Another academic viewpoint on case study
's presonted by Ar. Biresh Shah by saying
that case study basically is a design
research ~ it gives the necessary input for
bonverting the program into actual design,
Virtaly anything trom anywhere can be
Sludied that wil reinforce the input forthe
pure design. There could be partial and
“ragmentary studies,
‘Case Study is just ike when meeting @
person, what you want to talk ta tim
about, You just want f0 see his face or
whether you want to laik about his tite
tistory’, exemplities Av. Bibhutiman Singh
and hints that the students should be
prepared and have to identity what aspect
of the case/subject he/she is going ta
study.
Ar. Purna Krishna Dongol, on the other
hand, views that the literature reviow is
done to know what the requirements are,
‘while case studies are done to study what
‘he drawbacks in the design are, He also
passes a note of caution that normally tho
case study is done in local level while the
proposal (inthe form of design) could be
‘universal (intemational) so while doing the
case study, the student has to see for the
nee of the topic
On ‘issues’ ~ Design issues / Thesis
issues
Issues are by defintion, says Prof, Tiwari, a
forthcoming question ar 2 debate or some
idan or expression which is debatatle or
some questions that do not have a
readymade answer from within the system,
He continues ~ “There could be design
issues (raised by certain case studies),
technological issues etc, E.9. whether
Supermarkets and small shops can go
together could be an issue - ft works may
be because the supermarket is right next to
the shopping streets in the Newroad, but
‘whether it works in a building ar not could
‘bo another issue. So issues are essentially
some question, some controversies oF
problems that are observed. In a thesis,
there has to be an issue because if there is
ro problem then there is no solution."
Prof. Tiwari views that there are various
methods applied in design and depending
upon wich method is used, issues right
be different. He exalains ~ “We ara usually
using heuristics to reduce the design
problem as you go on. The problem Is not
finally solved like 2+ 2 = 4 in
mathematics but it gets somewhere closer
{0 it, but how close depends upon what
You think is clase. While designing, we do
io & fro movement - we do something,
then look at it and if is not good, we go
back and do something alse. in doing so.
we are actually comparing it with
something else. In architecture, itis more
like pattern matching where a pattern is
‘matched in terms of space, circulation ete
like jigsaw puzzle. As for case study, itis @
‘ationalist method. You study something
and try to analyze & identify what the
problem with the design is. You use that
‘analysis and try to synthesize in your own
design. Sometimes you do a story line
design 2g, there is a student who joins in
class one and goes through two, three,
four and finally graduates in ten years. $0
thera is a sequonce. in fac, there isa story
happening for everyone. Yau could design
justto fit that stay.”
On a similar note, Av. Biresh Shah views
‘issues 2s goveming elements for any thesis
‘and says that issues and problems are
nothing but ‘setting a stago' for thesis - 2
foundation. No creativity can be explored if
thesis lacks issues. He further adds ~
“Issues are identified in the course of
research, we convert them into problems
and which then give us the suggestions.
‘We are dealing withthe issues wile dealing
with the problems.”
‘At Puma Krishna Dongol says that design
issues are nothing but the rationale given
by the case study.
A, Bijaya Krishna Shrestha stresses that
while finalizing the design topic itselt
students should know what important
issues that he will be dealing with e.g. in
School design ~ how to make educational
institution sustainable tram psychological
perspectives or from thal of learning
Drocess or education system. All the igsues
cannot be addressed al once, so which
‘issues nead to be addressed first must be
AN ANNUAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITEcTURE———
identified e.g. issues in elderly hora -
lighting and ventilation, fee of steps or use
cf ramp ete. Psychological needs of senior
citizen or environmental psychology could
again be a naw issue
On Design Process
Ar Bibhutiman Singh takas the idea of
breaking down the design process into its
constituents as impractical one. He
theorizes "There are two schools of
thoughts - from botlom up or top down,
The lalter approach is the more usual &
conventional one, starting with broad
Conceptual level down to the minute
details. But al the same time, e.g. in
‘designing a house, you could start wih the
design of plumbing. This is the bottom up
approach and can be an interesting design
approach
Sometimes it is like learning to rldo a
bieycle. A person might not know how. to
Tide a bicycle unt he learns i, and ance he
learns i, he will never forget it. He does not
care what centripetal force or centrifugal
force is acting in it, he just does cycling
But then if he knows the mechanics of
cyoling, though he may nat know how to
ride if, he might invent a now type of
bioycle, Ifa certain topic is broken down
into is constituent parts, though one may
not necessarily have practical knawledge,
but his knowledge of constituent parts will
give him the knowledge of first principles
that will lead him to innovations. So, in
design process we need both approaches
Norrally this is where people are confused
bout ~ e.g. whether to take an artistic
approach or technical appraach. We need
bath.”
Prof, Tiwari generalizes the theory of design
rocess an more academic terms —
Basically tor any design process, the
project problem must be defined and the
departure to solve those problems noeds to
be established. Starting from few key
aspects, finally the problem has to be
solved in all aspects. Detine your problem,
Idenity the key issues and find out what re
some of the ways for resolving those
issues. You can always do analysis &
synthesis kind of things, While you are
doing the case study/research, first
principle research method can be applied,
2g. a thesis on Meditation conter can start
by enquiring wt is meditation, what kinds
of the spaces are needed for the meditation
etc. There is always that frst person who
designed the meditation center and who
‘might have thought that way, when there
were na cases to study. He might have the
material or the function and have tried to
‘put up his bulging accordingly, So design
‘process differs depending upon what you
have. Ultimately when it comes to close thecircle, the process is similar =
approximating the solution. We have to ask
whether we have reached where we wanted
to reach, or does the solution satisty the
objectives that we have set?"
On the Expectation of Jury
There is a general agreement that the
expectation of the jury difers from person
‘0 person. Prof. Tiwari clarifies ~ *Normally
thay are thinking of innovation, Often good
jurors are those who can see those
innovations. They might realize that the
student has tried to co something, maybe
he didn't co too well but he has something
there and has tried ta be creative in some
way. Certainly, they are not expected to
discuss on the requirements or something
Which has been settled long ago. He has to
Judge the architectural dea that has been
put up. Architectural ideas are spectrum of
Ideas. Sometime it might be presentation
‘ideas. We might dismiss it as drafisporson's
approach, but we may find architects who
‘make radically different presentations and
that might be their contribution, Anything
now is expected that may be in social
aspects, form or characterization, But fis
not necessary that all jurors nave to agree
wit the idea. But this happens with every
architect. You are not supposed to agree
with each other or else there is no
Innovation. So agreement isnot what the
jury should be seeking, Sometimes criticism
is misunderstood; it should rather be
rendered positively.”
Ar. Bireshi Shah & Ar Dipak Pant both agree
that the expectation in the jury Is a
Subjective matter. They add ~ *For us, itis
the consistency ~ how clear is the project,
what is the approach, how research has
been done, how design has been
developed - a growth that shows the
consistent & sincere effor.” Ar Dipak Pant
continues ~ *Basicaly, the projact needs to
bbe completo in avery respect. Physically
saying, some students may not have
completed plan or section, some may end
up with half rendering etc. It Is not the
‘matter of how many sheets but of the basic
minimum works (in the form of sketches,
drawings etc.) to express the idea
effectively. Throughout the process, the
‘overall work should display the sincerity of
the student in terms of the time available, °
Having appeared as a juror in numerous
‘occasions, Ar. Bibhutiman Singh shares his
experience ~ “Personally, | would go more
for open ended questions. The drawings
will obviously be Seen but | wouldn't go in
‘rival details ike the wicth of corridor. Ideal
only on broader conceptual level and wish
to discuss on such topics. That's why |
call it @ hypothesis; it should be on broad
Conceptual level only, so that the person
—— AN ANNUAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE:
ISSUE
a
who reads the thesis could draw out his
own open ended interpretations. Such
thesis are more interesting which
‘more unanswered questions rather than
calving just specific solutions, e.g. in
designing a cup, giving the design salution
‘to milimeter accuracy is not the thesis. You
should rather deal the cup in philosophical
‘or broad conceptual level, for instance, the
cup is a container having half mass and
half void. That way people who look at it
‘can design ther own type of cup.
A. Baya Krishna Shrestha states his
expectation as a juror in clear terms =
“Thesis consists of oral presentation,
Graphical presentation and report wating, 1
look for three things in thesis ~ analysis
(process, identifying issues, case study
analysis, essons learnt from qualitative and
quantitative data, how the student has
formulated the areas, finalized the activities
‘and refined the evidences on what he has
proposed, the analytical capabilly and the
authenticity of the data); presentation
lechniques (how the student explains his
Droject in 15-20 mins, students’ capablity
and technique to explain clearly what has
been done in skx months); report writing
(which is mostly not given emphasis, It is
‘more important than the oral presentation
because oral presentation wil not include
everything that has been done but the
report is comprehensive and can be
accessed for cillerent data & Information
any time in the futur).*
‘At. Pura Krishna Dongol says that thesis
valuation has a subjective element -
fargely depends on the defense judgment,
But basically, how skilfully the student has
tackled the problem and how he/she tas
Presented the solution balancedly is
obviously seen,
On Repori/Literature
'A report should be abla to fully express
the idea” - says Prot, Tiwari, “It is
important, may be not from the guide's/
teacher's perspective, but for juror that is
what they read and get an idea trom
Report is just another way of
communicating and expressing your ideas
to the juror and other readers whe want to
‘now about te design,
Prof. Tivacl comments on the prevailing
trend of disregarding the erature for the
sake of graphics and remarks —
“Architecture studonts always have this
problem, They always think that iis just a
design; they don't nave the idea what
Glesign is. They thnk iis ust a graphic
space, Graphic space nead not be good
space, though it might look good in
drawing. Sometime you can have graphic
design a8 @ term - Eg. from the plan of
school we can tell thal iis @ school ~he
layout of the class & the way things have
ben done tells how that school is being
‘un, That is 2 very graphic way, and not
|ust presentation,”
A, Biresh Shah is frank about the lack of
weightage given to the report, “lt has only
remained as a formality. Report in isell
could be a creative and meaningful
exercise for sludants. Students don't do
analytical sketches — they find easy way by
pasting the direct information trom eigtal
sources, There are many theses where
esearch component is much stranger —
ven bigger than design component. This
has to be reflected in the report. tt Is not
necessary to make numeraus pages; a
smal port could be effectively arganizad,
‘ypitying the report according to the
categorization of theses will help in
affective expression of ideas and thereby
effective transmission of information. This
will again help in better organization of
‘port. An effective report is a great asset
not only to the reader as 2 resource
material but also to the student who writes
it because in making a sincere report, his!
her own understanding & knowledge on
the subject is being developed.
Ar, Bibhutimian Singh thinks that whether
People read it or not, bul as a thesis,
Students must virte dawn what they fee,
‘what they are inspired by, what they cid,
‘how the design solution came about, what
are future possibilties etc. ll such aspocts
could only be expressed in repart
Everybody Is drawn by the graphics
‘doesn't mean thatthe value af the report is
diminished. He remarks that generally
people don’t read the text and give marks
by looking only at the drawings ané
presentations. Al the same time, reports of
thé students themselves normally suffer
‘rom bad grammar and horrible syntax, He
thinks the report is good if itis presented
in a very short and sweet way using
maximum graphical methods,
‘A. Biya Krishna Shrestha, on the other
hhand, points that instead of quoting the
direct information, students should
process it before presenting iti the report
~ that way he/she will ave his/her input as
‘an analytical exercise,
On Presentation Guidelines
“Guidelines are for comparative purpos
~ says Prof. Tiwari, "Facully has the
responsibility to make sura that everyone is
presented on a comparable basis. If we
don't give the guideline, there might be
variety of media and presentation
techniques. They could be marvelous but
‘then they might give an unfair advantage or
an unfair disadvantage to someone. £5
somebody else might know how io do
‘those things, but might not have used it~
ISSUE
peclly the quidlines, may
y simple. That's the safest
of comparing standaré, But there have
when students don't follow ti
nus sit mean thal we reject
he whole thing but that is Up to i
sk. The guidelines can n
vork within a safe limit. To
nls i helps, probably ft doesn’t help
ry good students. But guidelines cannot
ait design tok poor, Guideline
always Helps in the comparative process
cause If hore is no there is
petition ermational
ons Have guidelines. Guideline
fe loose but itis always there.
1 the competitions defying
ke a student
average
nigh
technology can nat hide a sub standard
‘content. Evory thesis has its own imitation,
1.9. not everything can be shown in the
PowerPoint, and @ great many things will
be better presented inthe form of drawings.
Besides there is always the time factor in
the matter of presentation and students
have 10 decide on their mode of
presentation axcordingly.”
Issues that have emerged fram these
tsoussions are diverse and, on many
account, rather subjective. The
interpretations aunt the fessons that cout
be fearnt trom these issues may vary.
Resolving tho difference in the opinions of
sludents. teachers, jurors and even
volessionals sight he teu especialy in
(Based on the interviews by Gyanendra
Shakya, Manindra Shrestha &
Padmeadra Prasad Shrestha. They are
graduates from Institute of Engineering,
10E)
(Footnotes)
Prof. Dr. Sudarshan Raj Tiwari, Ar Biresh
Shah and Ac Deopak Pant have been
supervising 8. Arch, Thesis at Institute of
Enginoering,Tribiunwan University. Dr, Baya
krishna Shrestha is a thesis guide at NEC,
Pokhara University and Khowpa
Engineering College, Purbanchal University
At, Bibhuti Man Singh is 4 practicing
architect and has been a thesis juror @
several times. Ac Putna-rishna Dongat is
Ar ices Shah & Ar. Dipak Pant agrée with @ subject tke architecture. But until a Head of Department nf Department ot
Tiwari“ ttle flevblity should have common denominator is sought trough Architecture at Kathmandu Engineering
een there, bul Ion much ffeecor is not open discussions ark forums on issue tke College
esitasle hocause it wil create confusion & this, it will always remain a matter of °7""**
‘culty in the evaluation. Technology contusion, To give a safer landing to
Howls be inioligantly used but m should —BATeR. Thesis, the stucionts showid try 10
‘iat overrule our ides. should not be eitserve the goodness of al these aspecis
pol or made a Barrier. A superior and find ¢heir reHlections in their thesis
works
Rene
shrest
‘Tribhuvan University Affiliate
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