Theoretical Background and Conceptual Framework

- Theoretical background can produce the conceptual framework and eventually produce the
proper research design.
- What theories can you use in order to produce the intended result that the client wants based
on the architecture brief
- Primary objective:
o Properly identify what the problem is; and
o Properly show to our client that we have understood the main problem/ question
o Able to produce a result
- Ensure that the result answers the problems identified at the start.
- These are tools to aid us in solving the statement of the problem
- Before you can produce the result, you have to refine what does the client want? – statement of
the problem
- After properly identifying the statement of the problem, specify the sub-problems/issues that
you think are important and should be addressed when producing the drawings later on.

- Specific kinds of theories can be used to aid in deriving the answer to a problem. Theories may
come from any fields.
- These are means of assessment and identification of information needed to address the issues
put forward
- Step-by-step process of helping us understand what we are to produce.

- Theoretical bg

- Theories aid in interpreting the question properly so that we can identify how to answer the
particular issue presented in the statement of the problem

- Example:
Theories can be paradigms.
- Theory of chord progression
o How chords are placed one after another. In relation to architecture, specifically, Ar.
Paladio used this concept in the production of the structure.
o This is an example of an unrelated theory used in influencing the design
- Theory of sense of place
o This is common now, but it started as a notion in sociology- how we perceive everything
- Theory of the space syntax
o Based from theory of architecture morphology which is more or less similar to the chord
progression
o Sample: in a house, you enter directly to the living room, beside another room, etc, etc.
this implicates that a certain arrangement of spaces have a progression. The theory of
architecture morphology indicates this. How many spaces do you need to go in order to
get to a specific space. This has something to do with the concept of privacy. The more
spaces you need to pass through the more private that space is.

- These are some of the theories that can be used to check if the information produced are
correct.
- To be able to properly identify what theory we can use in order to provide what the client
wants.
- Use a theory as a guide in order to make the assessment needed. It is the theory that influences
the design in the end.
- Mindset: I will choose this theory because using this theory I can better interpret the issues
identified at the start.

- How to select the theory?

- Common theories:
Modernism, post modernism, etc.
- Theories are a means to assess. And upon identification of a theory, it can be used for the
creation of the form.
- Ex. Clean lines, pilotis, etc. – this can be used in guiding, producing the result
Theoretical Background
- Comes after problem
- It is a lens to be able to look and interpret
- Talking about one or more theories already
- how you use the theories in the assessment of the architecture
- Talking about how you interpret that theory and how you use that theory as a means for you to
assess the statement of the problem/issues identified.
o If you want to watch the movie in 3d then you wear a particular glasses, in relation to a
theoretical bg, it is an eyeglass that you wear according to a certain perspective.
o The notion of the theoretical bg is that it is a means of evaluating the statement of the
problem identified at the start.
- According to objectives that are set and time frame
- Example:
o I may have the capacity to use more theories but time constraints and financial capacity
hinder the researcher to test, assess, and evaluate the results simply because I used this
theory.
o You may have identified very good theories, but because of limitations, some theories
are eliminated.
Theoretical Framework
- Comes after theoretical background
- Major component is when you deal with this part you are talking about the relationship
between specific variables that are to be used in the thesis/project/design
- How does this theory affect this theory?
- You have to resolve theory1 in order to proceed to theory2.
- Theory 1 can be resolved independently but there is a need to finish theory2 in order to produce
a good output
- Research design:
o Comes after conceptual framework
o After truly understanding the contents of the conceptual framework, you more or less
have an idea which variables have an effect in this other variable
Deduction Method
- Generic to specific
- The more specific you are in the study and the more information you have when you reach a
particular level, you are more likely to be able to interpret the problem
- If you think there is a limitation in time, capacity, then you decide what theories to let go- make
sure it is not the most critical one
o This can be placed in the scope and limitation of the study
o Limitation of unable to go to the field because of the Covid 19 virus