What is an Architectural Thesis ?

ARCHITECTURAL THESISSEMESTER 10

A R C H I T E C T U R A L T H E S I SF I N A L Y E A R

G . O P H Y L I A V I N O D H I N IA S S T . P R O F E S S O R

C . A . R . E . S C H O O L O F A R C H I T E C T U R ET I R U C H I R A P A L L I

S E M E S T E R 10


Architectural Thesis ?


“IF I HAD TO TEACH ARCHITECTURE....I WOULD STRIVE TO INCULCATE IN MY PUPILS

A KEEN SENSE OF CONTROL--UNBIASED JUDGMENT

AND OF THE “HOW” AND THE “WHY.”

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO CULTIVATE THIS SENSE TILL THEIR DYING DAY. BUT

I WOULD WANT THEM TO BASE IT ON AN OBJECTIVE SERIES OF FACTS.

FACTS ARE FLUID AND CHANGEABLE ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS, SO I WOULD TEACH THEM

TO DISTRUST FORMULAS AND IMPRESS ON THEM

THAT EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE.”--LE CORBUSIER

THESIS - a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved


What is my search?

What is my research QUESTION?

WHAT?

WHY?

WHERE?

WHEN?

HOW?

WHO?

“This will be an experience that will inspire the students for a SEARCH that will last a lifetime.“ Diana Agrest


THESIS

RESEARCH

PROGRAMSITE

DETAILS

INFERENCES


TYPES OF THESIS

Design Thesis 30 I 70

Study Thesis 70 I 30

Every thesis as per university regulations has to culminate in a design project with project report, slides, working drawings, detailing and models.


A S P E C T S

Programmatic Concerns Socio-Cultural

Historical, Preservation/ adaptive reuse

Tectonic/ Design Build

Contextual Response Typological

Multi-disciplinary

InvestigationsTheoretical


P R O G R A M M A T I C C O N C E R N S


PROGRAMMATIC CONCERNS

Based on Design Programs

Programmatic Concerns

HYBRID programs, contemporary

design processes

New functional Types, advanced

architectural design

Evolution of the design Program

Concerns and Issues

Spatial Design Solutions

Applications


SOCIO-CULTURAL


SOCIO-CULTURAL

Contemporary social/ cultural

Problematics (homelessness, oldage

etc.)

Historic , Heritage context for social

concerns

rural settlements

Physical Survey

Analysis

Timeline of the concern

Spatial requirements


HISTORICAL


HISTORICAL

Conservation

Preservation and

ADAPTIVE Reuse

Heritage tourism

Historical campuses

DOCUMENTATION of the existing

SWOT analysis

Solutions to present context

Design Program


TECTONIC/ DESIGN BUILD


TECTONIC/ DESIGN BUILD

Spatial System

Structural System

Technical System

Material Selection and Development

Architectural Expression

Qualities of spaces

Spatial Arrangements

Detailing


CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE


CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE

urban, suburban or ecological

sensitive

environmental design,

landscape design

urban design including

urban-infill

Socio cultural, Geological and

ecological

Site Analysis and Planning

Context of the Design Program

Previous attemptsSimilar Projects

Planning and Design Solutions


TYPOLOGICAL


TYPOLOGICALa given building type, its history and its potential

transformationsE.g.. housing

Narrative Works

pre-existing text or work, artistic work

basis of both analysis and architectural exploration.

Documentation

Evolution of design program


Analysis and Architectural Exploration


MULTI -DISCIPL INARY INVESTIGATIONS


MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS

examines the relationship between

architecture and other fields

architecture and its relationship to philosophy, art,

film, music, etc.,

Understanding the Allied field

Concerns and needs of establishing the relationship

Scope of the suggested design typology

Design Requirements and Spatial Planning


THEORETICAL


THEORETICALbegins with the examination

and/or questioning of an architectural text,

conception of space (Empathy, Isotropic etc.)

diagrams, drawings

architectural representation

E.g.. Semiotics, Kinesthetics

etc.,

Theoretical study

Evolution of design program


Analysis and Architectural Exploration


It is incumbent upon the Thesis Student to….

• Submit all required documentation complete and on time during timely Thesis reviews.

• Establish regular meetings with the Thesis Advisor in order to ensure consistent rigor and progress toward completion. Meeting schedules between the student and the Thesis Advisor can be flexible as long it does not hinder the progress of the student. The student and the Thesis Advisor should establish a convenient schedule to review the project's progress and to exchange ideas.

• Present material to the Thesis Advisor in a manner that effectively allows for reflection, critique and commentary in a timely fashion.

• Document decisions and actions. Take notes at your meetings to keep track of advice, assigned tasks and agree upon time frames.

• Provide outlines, summaries and drafts. These can be provided prior to a meeting for formal feedback regarding key ideas or strategies or for editorial review of text drafts.

• Identify Action Agendas. These should be agreed upon with the Thesis Advisor to pace student progress, and to identify and frame goals for each meeting.

• Engage with Committee members keeping them abreast of progress and utilizing their expertise where and when needed.


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What is an Architectural Thesis ?