Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Architectural Research

Qazi Azizul Mowla, FIAB, AAG

B.Arch. (BUET); M.Arch. Distinction (IIT-R, India); M.Urb.Des. Distinction (HKU)
Ph.D. (Liverpool-UK); Post-Doc. (Sweden).
Professor of Urban Design, Conservation and Landscape,
Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET) Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.

e-mail: qmowla@yahoo.co.uk; qamawla@arch.buet.ac.bd

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture
(PEO:Program Education Objective; PO: Program Outcome; CO: Course Outcome)

(Preparation of complete design solution based on investigation and analysis of the physical and contextual aspectsof
the problem, and on the understanding of design considerations of material, structure, form, environment etc.

Stress is given on the objective analysis of the related factors and in transforming them into a tangible architectural
solution of professionally acceptable quality)

Thesis
• A thesis is the very last step in the completion of graduation.
• It offers an opportunity to the students to explore a particular issue
relevant to the field they are working in.
• These kinds of investigations are based on conceptual beliefs and values.
• Students working on the thesis have to define their interest and solve
questions on the topic chosen by them.
An architectural thesis
One which require the student to question or challenge about architecture
and define concepts like:

i) a theme,
ii) site and
iii) a program.

Such projects are intellectual pieces of work which need to be advanced. It

is a combination of discussion and reasoning.
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Form of architectural projects:

•Programmatic
•Socio cultural
•Historic
•Typological
•Contextual response
•Theoretical
•Preservation
•Adaptive

Architectural projects classification:

•Urban Design and planning/infrastructure

•Cultural and Heritage facilities
•Leisure and fun facilities
•Housing
•Public offices, buildings and institutions
•Landscape with arch infrastructure
•Vernacular or indigenous innovations
•System Design
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Example: Research strategies for Architectural Research: Historical Research

• Defining the Research Problem
• Knowledge Gap
• Theoretical background / overview of prior research
• Research questions
• Aims/Objectives
• Study Area
• Approach and Methodology
• The title of dissertation

Seven research strategies in architectural research: Historical Research

• Qualitative Research
• Co relational Research
• Simulation Research
• Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research

• Logical Argumentation
• Case Studies and Combined Strategies
History research entails fact finding, fact evaluation, fact organization, and fact analysis

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Example:
‘Interpretative Historical Research

C. Tactics for Case-study in Historical Research

Tactic 1: On‐site familiarity.
Tactic 2: Use of documents.
Tactic 3: Visual comparisons
Tactic 4: Material evidence.
Tactic 5: Comparison with conditions elsewhere.
Tactic 6: Local informants and lore
Tactic 7: Re-enactment/testimonial.
Tactic 8: Identification of remaining questions.

(ref: Jean‐Pierre Protzen researched on Incan construction technique)

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture
Example:
‘Interpretative Historical Research’
This method comprises:
• Field Research - Survey technique,
data collection and documentation
• Desk Research - Data simulation
- Interpretation

That helps to fix up and requires basic principles and techniques adapted for
reaching to the goals and objectives of the whole program.

A. Handling of 4 Types of Evidence in Historical Research:

(a) determinative, (b) contextual, (c) inferential, and (d) re-collective evidence

B. Traits/ Characteristic of Historical Research

1.History research bring into view of something from past
2.Interpertation
3.Narrative
4.The cultural Turn
5.Spatial turn
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Example:

The framework consists of six components:

(a)asking historical questions,
(b)using sources,
(c)contextualization,
(d)argumentation,
(e)using substantive concepts,
(f) using meta-concepts.

The developments in of the recent decades show that “context” as a theory

and placed a emerging stem in social study, environment, economics
research as well as architecture.

(Jannet van Drie & Carla van Boxtel (2008), Educ Psychol Rev, Springer, Noted in
“Historical Reasoning: Towards a Framework for Analyzing Students’ Reasoning about the Past” )
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THESIS QUESTIONS

1. What is a hypothesis? Write down your own hypothesis and justify it with references to authors whom
you reviewed in literature review.

2. Make a list of parameters of your study with variables and their values. Explain how they relate to your
hypothesis.

3. What is Research Design? What methodology you developed for data collection and analysis?

4. What is a design concept? Explain your design concept for the thesis project.

5. List and explain the criteria for site zoning. With reference to your own design, explain where you have
made trade-offs and why?

6. What are the main considerations for design? Explain how the design can help create a new
environment.

7. Explain the relation of land use zoning and circulation, while explaining how vehicular and pedestrian
circulation shaped the organization of spaces in your design.

8. What is an Architectural Style and how it is established?

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Review & Goal Problem or Possible

Understanding of Formulation Hypothesis courses
the Problem /Concept Formulation of Action

Evaluation
EXPERIENCE

Implementation / Design Selection / Translation

under control parameters of Goal into action

A simple flow chart for Research/Design = Outcome based Approach

(PEO:Program Education Objective; PO: Program Outcome; CO: Course Outcome)

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Apply
(as you
diverge)

THINK
THINK
AGAIN

Yes

Did you No
SHARE get new DISCUSS
ideas?

PRESENT DISCUSS

Apply
(as you
converge)

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Comparison of Research & Design undertakings in architecture

Architectural Expression in
Research Design architectural design

Concept *Direct Response

(Mapping/Idea/ *Analogy
*Metaphor
Formulation of Philosophy)
*Essence
Goal *Ideal
*Archetype

Conceptual Elements *Verticality

*Monumentality
*Horizontality etc.

*Vertical plane
Translation of Visual Elements *Vertical Circulation
Goal into Plan *Space Orientation etc.

Form Making on idea *Archetype

Visualization *Deconstruction
*(Context: Site, Social, Cultural,
Economy, Environment,
Technology etc.)
Analysis of Plan
Design/Presentation Articulation of Space
(indoor & outdoor)
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

1. Cognitive domain: intellectual

capability, knowledge  'think'
2. Affective domain: feelings emotions and
behaviour, i.e., attitude, belief  'feel'
3. Psychomotor domain: manual and
physical skills i.e., skills  'do‘

Record what you want

Improve it Do what you recorded

“Quality is never an accident. It is
Prove it
always the result of intelligent
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) effort”
- John Ruskin

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Design
Thinking

Design Thinking

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Provocative Zone of Comfort/Competence

Zone of Tolerance/Caution
Thinking Zone of Rejection/Incompetence

Evolution
(Natural)

Revolution
(Breakthrough)

Evolution
(Punctuated) Zone of Provocative
Thinking
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture
ENGAGEMENT MISSION
MISSION

People

Contextual
What
Place People
do in a
Place

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture
ENGAGEMENT MISSION
…three
ENVIRONMENT

Virtual
Environment

Contextual

Natural Built
Environment Environment

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture
Visualization
…Primary Research
Focus Areas…

Virtual
Environment

Contextual

Natural Built
Environment Environment

Paradigm Shifts Toward

Transdisciplinarity
Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research
 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

So, Approach has a focus on CONTEXT

 Questions that have not been answered…

 Problems that have not been solved…
 Needs that have not been satisfied…
 Opportunities that have not been realized…
 Aspirations that have not been fulfilled…

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Trans disciplinary, Trans institutional and Transnational

Eliminating the artificial boundaries among disciplines and knowledge domains, institutions
(public and private), and nations, in the pursuit of solutions.
Transdisciplinary

Contextual Envelope
of the FUTURE
Transnational

Institutional Focus Transinstitutional

National Focus

Disciplinary Focus

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research

 Antecedents to Thesis Projects for the First Professional Degree in Architecture

Inspirations Reflections
Bottom line:
with imagination
you have the world
in your hands…
Thank you
Inquiries: Prof. Qazi A. Mowla,
qmowla@yahoo.co.uk;
qamawla@arch.buet.ac.bd;
Cell: +880 171 1339026;
+8801971339026

Motivations

Seminar on Design, Philosophy and Research