09 ARC 8.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
PROJECT (THESIS)
09 ARC 8.1 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT (THESIS)

Synopsis Writing:

1. Title- Should be defined with reference to issue under consideration.

2. Introduction- Take and issue. Elaborate on it and then define how your
understanding of the issue will eventually culminate into what kind of
architectural project.

3. Objectives of Thesis- point wise explain what you want to achieve through
this thesis.

4. Hypothesis- Is a statement which may be proved or disproved during thesis

process. So hypothesis is one sentenced statement of what you think you are
going to prove in your thesis.
5. Methodology for Issue based topics

1. Literature Review- Dictionary meanings of key words, historical aspect of the topic,
Contemporary stands on topic, Opinions of experts in the field (has to happen in two
sub topics- topic and architecture of the same)
2. Case studies- Live case studies -2; Literature case studies-2
3. Program formulation
4. Library study on Program if required
5. Site study- (data collection of site refer list of planning)- at city level and site level,
climate, topography, context etc.
6. Concept.
7. Design

6. Methodology for Site based topic-

6. Site Study- data collection and analysis as you have done in Planning in detail
7. Program formulation- Based on site study.
8. Case study- Literature case studies of the program formulated (live case studies
preferred)
9. Concept
10. Design

7. Conclusion- What you think the thesis is going to bring to light through this process.
8. Bibliography- list of books and websites that you have referred for synopsis writing.
Structure of Presentation of Issue based topics
1. Literature study
2. Case Studies
3. Site Study+ Program Formulation
4. Concept Formulation and basic design strategy.
5. Design Reviews

1) Literature study

1.1 Introduction of topic and Intention of Thesis.

1.2 Dictionary meaning and elaboration on key words.
1.3 Elaboration on Issue or Phenomenon-
a) Characteristics, Aspects of the issue.
b) Historical Aspect of the phenomenon.
1.4 Architecture dealing with that issue:
a) Chronological documentation of architecture dealing in that
phenomenon
b)Contemporary architecture dealing with phenomenon.

1.5 Opinions of Experts on the phenomenon on the issue and architecture

dealing with the issue.
2) Case Studies
2.1Live Case Studies (min 2 case studies)

Quantitative Study-
a. All Architectural drawings- Site Plan, Plans, Elevations, Sections.
b. Photographic documentation.
c. Chart of program and area.
d. Building Construction and Technology.
e. Materials- flooring, Wall finishes, fenestrations, Roofing etc. for each zone
f. Built Vs. open study
g. Zoning Study (Academic, admin Residential etc.; Public and Private zones;
Commercial residential etc.)
h. Connector study (Roads, passages, etc.)
i. Open Space study (different types of spaces)
j. Vehicular zones, pedestrian routes and zones, and parking pools.
k. Services- AC, Electric, location of transformers, water tanks, lifts ducts etc.

Qualitative study-
l. Basic concept of the case study as envisaged by architect
m. User behavior and activity patterns
n. Analysis of Visual quality in massing, space making and form making.
o. User interviews and satisfaction levels.
p. Critical analysis- Shortcomings and Strengths based on the study in chart format.
2.2 Literature case studies (min 2 case studies)
Good examples of related case studies from world over and gathering
maximum information on the same from net or books.
Should focus on concepts and approaches done at varied sites and contexts.
Should as far as possible include above points.
3.0 Program Formulation
4.0 Time savers standard study-
Should be a study from time savers standards regarding zoning, circulation, area
requirements of the programs suggested.
5.0 Site study-
City level study History and general overview of city and relevance in choosing
city for thesis
Climatic study
Location of site in city
Major connectors to the site
Study of site and its surroundings based on 20 points in planning
(at least one plot depth)
Site dimensions.
Documentation of existing buildings, landscape etc. on site.
Contours of site
Local building bye laws- setbacks, FSI and ground coverage.
6.0 Concept
7.0 Design Proposal
8.0 Conclusion
Bibiliography
Structure of Presentation for Site based Topics:

1) Introduction of Site and its issues

2) Data Collection of Site
3) Analysis + Program formulation
4) Literature case studies
5) Concept formulation and basic Design Strategy
6) Design

1.0 Introduction of the Issuse/s and concerns for selection of Site.

2.0 Data Collection of Site

2.1 City level study History and general overview of city and relevance in
choosing city for thesis
2.2 Climatic study
2.3 Location of site in city
2.4 Major connectors to the site
Site Level Study-

1. BASE MAP
2. BUILT VS OPEN
3. PLOT NUMBERS
4. LANDUSE- Residential, commercial, public- semi public, industrial, open
space, streets and roads, lakes or water bodies, others
5. Height of buildings- G, G+1, G+2etc
6. ROOF TYPOLOGY- Sloping-
Manglore tile, country tile, stone tile, RCC, tin, Flat etc.
7. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION-
load bearing- mud, brick, stone; Composite- mud and brick, wood etc; RCC framed
8. BUILDING CONDITION- Excellent, Good, fair, Bad, Dilapidated.
9. BUILDING TYPOLOGY (Planning and design)- Courtyard houses, train houses etc.
10. STREET PATTERN- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Cul-de-sac,
pedestrian routes (Along with widths), One way, both ways etc.
11. PARKING PATTERN-
On street pattern, In Plot Parking, Two wheelers, Four wheelers
12. TYPES OF OPEN SPACES- Neighborhood level, Community level, Private
front yards and back yards or courtyards, Religious, Play grounds, Recreational etc.

13. SERVICES- Electric poles and lines, transformers; water lines, hand pumps
and taps; telephone lines; gas lines; gutters; underground drainage systems, septic

tanks, gobar gas plants etc.

14. LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS-
Types of trees, natural features like boulders, water bodies etc.

15. LANDMARKS
Eye catching elements and functions to which people relate to in general.
16. STREET ELEVATIONS- documentation of street elevations- 2
17. STREET SECTIONS- 3 TO 4 strategic sections which can define scale of the street.

18. COMMUNITY TYPE- Religion and Caste

19. OCCUPATION- Of the primary earning member
20. ACTIVITIY PATTERNS- Daily, Weekly, Seasonal
3.0) Analysis and program formulation.

Subjective interpretation of data and understanding the problems and

potentials of the site at overall level and at zoomed in levels (minimum four
precincts in the site). Based on this analysis a justified program has to be
formulated which will be at strategy level as well as design intervention
level.

4.0)Literature case studies (min 2 case studies)

4.1 Architecture and Urban design studies
Good examples of related case studies from world over and
gathering maximum information on the same from net or books.
Should focus on concepts and approaches done at varied sites and

contexts.
4.2Time savers standard study-
Should be a study from time savers standards regarding zoning,

circulation, area requirements of the programs suggested.

5.0 Concept formulation and basic design strategy:

6.0 Design Proposal
7.0 Conclusions
Hypothesis:

Is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited

evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

hypothesis refers to a provisional idea whose merit requires evaluation.

A hypothesis requires more work by the researcher in order to either confirm

or disprove it.
In due course, a confirmed hypothesis may become part of a theory or
occasionally may grow to become a theory itself.

In science, a hypothesis is an idea or explanation that you then test through

study and experimentation. Outside science, a theory or guess can also be
called a hypothesis.

What is the meaning of hypothesis in research?

An hypothesis is a specific statement of prediction.

It describes in concrete (rather than theoretical) terms what you expect
will happen in your study.
Definition:-

A hypothesis is a statement of assumption made in relation to

research study to test it in terms to truthfulness or not.

Some other definitions of scholars are :

According to Goode and Hatt, A hypothesis is a proportion which can be put to

test to determine its validity.
According to Rummel and Balline, A hypothesis is a statement capable of
being tested and thereby verified or rejected.
According to P.B.Yoan, a preposition central idea, which became the basis for
useful investigation is known as a working hypothesis.
According to Bogardas, hypothesis is a preposition to be tested.