GP WHAT

Graduation project is one of the completion requirements of the graduation

degree for students in their senior year for the programs Architecture,
Landscape Architecture and Interior Design.
Presentation given to AIAs
Graduation Project in Architecture Graduation Project is completed in two stages. In stage one (programming
6th April 2021
Susana Soares Saraiva
stage), students are expected to develop a comprehensive in depth analysis of a
ssoares@uob.edu.bh given design problem based on basic principles of design research and critical
LINK to GP1 Samples
LINK to GP2 Samples thinking applied to the understanding of buildings/spaces as a re ection of
social, cultural, economic and political factors allied with functional and
technical needs. The study is resumed in the form of a report. In stage two
(design stage) students working individually are expected to develop a
comprehensive design project based on the programing de ned in Graduation
I. The nal design proposal shall re ect the contextual, physical, functional,
social, psychological, environmental and technical issues emanating from the
project. It will demonstrate the student’s intellectual strength, creativity and
ability to comprehensively deal with all design issues of a project.
Main objectives of Graduation Project:

Graduation I Graduation II

Establish the needs of the project. Articulate a philosophical and conceptual

approach to the project
Establish project goals and objectives.
Contextualize design with surroundings and
Investigate and discuss theoretical issues
constraints.
underlying to the project.
Respond to space requirements and
Identify the activities to be provided for and
functional relationships.
the user’s needs.
Develop an integrated design: environmental,
De ne the functional spatial program.
building service and structural systems,
Identify speci c technical requirements in construction and materials.
response to the previous.
Communicate the design project with clarity
Select of appropriate sites based on sound and precision
justi cations.

Phases and Activities of Graduation Project:

Graduation I Graduation II

Preliminary research le Final revision of graduation project report

Literature review and precedents Development of philosophical background

Functional program Development of conceptual approach

Selection of site Development of design project

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 WHEN
In terms of Academic Calendar
After the Mid-Semester break of the second semester of every academic year,
the Program Coordinator will post a list of the instructors assigned to teach
Graduation Project I in the next semester.
The Coordinator will issue a standard form to be lled out by all students who
plan to enroll in Graduation Project I course in the rst semester of the next
academic year to be returned by a pre-de ned deadline. On this form, students
should propose three (3) alternative design titles for their Graduation Project,
after consulting their preferred graduation project supervisor and obtaining the
supervisor’s approval.
The projects should be listed in the order of their preference. This form must
present a reasonably well-outlined project proposal with expected components
indicated with areas and a total area for the project. It should articulate the need
for the project and its potential complexity to be considered as a Graduation
Project.
The Graduation Project Instructors will discuss the suitability and applicability of
each project proposal for nal approval.
After this meeting the supervisors should call for a meeting with their students
within the last two weeks of the semester and carry out the following:
- Advise the students on re ning and de ning the project scope.
- Assist the students to develop the project proposal.
- Finalize the titles of the projects.
- Introduce the summer assignment.
At a Personal Level
A graduation project can be thought out since the beginning of the Bachelor of
Architecture program however, it is only has we mature as students that we are
able to nd our interests within the eld. It is also with time that we acquire
knowledge in the several related architecture topics addressed in the program
that we become aware of relevant issues in the architecture scene.
By semester 07 you are in the process of completing 5/7 design courses, around
70% of the design problems that will be explored in the Bachelor of
Architecture.
You are also mature enough as a student to ask yourself what distinguishes you
as a future architect and what type of topics you wish to pursue.
This would be a good time to start thinking about your graduation project.
Searching topics within architecture that interests you, types of projects,
discussing it with friends and instructors.

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 HOW
To select a project
For the rst time, students will be asked to proposal whatever they want as a
project but with freedom comes added responsibility. Students seem to believe
that a graduation project proposal needs to somehow be original. Originality in
architecture comes, normally, through the way we reinterpret types, programs,
spatial relationships or construction/assemblies, not necessarily by proposing a
building that doesn't exist. It is not impossible but unlikely.
In my opinion there are only 3 approaches to select a Graduation Project:
1. The Passionate: A building type or architecture topic you are passionate
about. It might be related to a hobby, a problem of a family member, a
volunteer activity, etc. Being passionate about something is a very good
start but it might make you loose sight of what is important. In this case
you need to make sure the project is relevant and justi able with facts and
not let yourself be blinded by your personal opinion.
2. The Pragmatic: You wish to complete your portfolio with a topic not
addressed yet in the Bachelor of Architecture program. As a future
architect you know that your portfolio is ‘your way in’ for a good job
opportunity and you want to have as much as possible, one that covers
most types of building complexity and market need. It is a perfectly valid
approach but you need to make sure you want to spend an entire year
dedicated to that particular design problem.
3. The Practical: A real project/problem/client: you nd a project proposed
by the government, ONG, or a real client and develop with them a
program and design. This options connects you directly with the real
world and real clients and makes the programming stage much easier.
To select an Instructor
The selection of a graduation supervisor should be based on professional
af nity. By now, the student has acquired an individual approach to design and
architecture thinking and has a particular project in mind.
Initial ideas should be discussed with the nominated graduation instructors. This
will help clarify and improve the graduation project proposal and to select the
most appropriate graduation instructor. The most suitable graduation instructor
will be the one that shares a similar approach to architectural thinking and has a
real interest in your type of project, not whom your friends advise you or gives
you high grades or with whom you laugh a lot in class. Those traits, even if
relevant, are not the most important ones in a graduation instructor but rather
the ability of the faculty to support your project and your ideas.

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 WHY
The main question you will answer through all graduation. Why this project, why
these components, why this site, why this philosophical approach, why, why?
Until now you have been given a design brief with increasing complexity every
semester to start your design. You have never asked yourself where did that
came from? Why wrote it? Based on what?
Well, now it is the time to nd out.
A functional program requires method and analytical skills. Proposed projects
need to be based on facts and evidence not personal opinions.
Spaces and components needs to respond to speci c measure needs and
intentions.
You will have an entire semester to do that task but to start I would advise you to
try to answer the magic 4
WHAT
What is the design problem that you would like to explore? You might no know
for now but you can research on the internet, books, newspapers about similar
topics. Learn about the general discussions about it and contextualize it in
Bahrain reality. The design problem should interrelate to international
discussions at a regional and local level.
WHY
Why is this topic relevant and this building important? With the rst collected
information in mind you can also search locally in Bahrain. Survey some
instructors, friends and family to justify why is this speci c problem relevant in
Bahrain and why is this building necessary.
HOW
How would the building be composed? Look at similar case studies and try to
understand what are the general features of this type of buildings, form,
materials, appearance. Also resume the main components that are always
present. And ask yourself what are you adding? What activities should take
place? What type of environment do you want to create? What type of people
are you targeting ands what is important to them?
WHERE
Where are these types of buildings normally located? This is not a preliminary
site selection but rather a resume and again, and interpretation of the urban and
natural context that is normal in the type of building and the justi cation
according to the speci cities of your proposal, of what would be relevant in this
particular case.

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