Thesis Manual
Thesis Manual
Thesis Manual
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Here are some of the point you have to cover to make sure that you
Introduction will give the reader a strong vision of of the direction
you want your project to take.
1. Present the problem and concerns which will bring you to choose to
work on your proposal. You should do this without using the word “I”
and without presenting your proposal just yet.
7. Wrap up. Before you start with the next part, make sure you have
linked all the things you’ve discussed. Do not leave the reader
wondering where on earth you got the idea of conducting this study. If
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you can come up with a clever parting statement here, then by all
means, DO!
Since you will be focusing on several RESEARCH TOPICS, you may be able
to come up with different specific needs that you have identified are
supposed to make your project unique from other studies. Let your
reader know this by stating your problem is a SIMPLE, CLEAR and DIRECT
manner.
1.1.3b OBJECTIVES
Objectives are more SPECFIC targets which eventually lead to the
attainment of your architectural goal. You may want to group them by
certain categories as determined by your goal, or arrange them
accordingly to importance.
1.1.3c STRATEGIES
Strategies are particular actions you have to do to achieve each
specific objective. Forget about architectural for a while and focus
on RESEARCH WORK. What you need to know, study, research on, survey,
observe, estimate or program in order to create a body of knowledge
that will lead to meeting your objectives. It would, therefore, be
more comprehensible if you allow the succeeding outline in stating
your thesis goals, objectives and strategies.
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GOAL
OBJECTIVE
1.
STRATEGIES
1.
2.
2.
STRATEGIES
1.
2.
3.
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But it can be a TOOL. (and it MUST be a tool if that is what you aim).
Always keep in mind that you are an architect, not a psychologist,
sociologist, physician, nor a politician. And so you must always
direct your discussion on the ARCHITECTURAL aspect of your work.
Oftentimes you get carried away by the description drawn from the
client’s project proposals and thereby forgetting the architectural
contributions you want your project to have. Example, if you are
working on Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents, you will not say
that your thesis can actually heal these addicts. Instead, you can
state your possible contributions, as an architect, to meet this
concern.
1.1.6 ASSUMPTION
The thesis, though a theoretical exercise which need to immediate
application, should however be REALISTIC and ACHIEVABLE as possible.
It would only mean that you will be dealing assumptions which will
support your study and give substance to your work. These may be
conditions where you base your study that needs some validation
through key informants you have interviewed. Your client’s name, the
possible funding source, the organization which will run the proposal
and the likes are example of these. Your assumptions can be of great
help when dealing with programming and cost analysis. Further, it can
bring your project into a more realistic sense and create a more
formidable framework for the design.
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unfamiliar to you. You might end up doing a list of terms for you not
your readers.
2. Terms should be defined operationally, that is, how they are used
in your study. For instance the study is about accessibility. What do
you mean by accessibility? To make the meaning clear you have to
define what covers the term, essential for a clearer understanding of
your study.
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3. Materials may not be too few or too many. It is always best to know
where and when to stop. Maintain a balanced presentation of
literature, just when enough, not to overwhelm your readers. In an
undergraduate thesis like yours ten (10) pieces of literature for
review is recommended.
This will be the part where you will inform your readers if there is a
theory you want to prove e.g. a limited area can affect the behavior
of a drug dependent, or a concept you want to test say, a moving space
is a best suited for the healing mind.
You might wonder what the difference between a theory and a concept
is. According to humans (1967), a THEORY has three basic components
(1) conceptual scheme (2)set of propositions stating relationships
between properties or variables and (3) context for verification. Your
Theory of Architecture subjects (T.ARCH 1, 2, and 3) clearly state
this as a relation between two properties, in the given example, space
and behavior.
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first but you have already done this before, haven’t you? You are just
to organize and give your work a more solid basis by stating the
theories and/or concepts and HOW will you go about this. Again, these
may just be part and parcel of the research topic of the entire
thesis.
a. SYSTEM OF INQUIRY
b. RESEARCH DESIGNS
c. RESEARCH TACTICS
1.5 BIBLIOGRAPHY
This is the list of reference (books, magazine, interviews, etc.)
you have consulted in the development of your book.. Here items are
arranged alphabetically regardless of the articles a, an, and the. You
may provide bibliographies for every chapter and have them listed at
an end. You can break down rather long bibliography according to
topics or type of publication, but you have to maintain an
alphabetical arrangement within each section.
Remember to put the authors’ surname first, then the first name and
middle name or initial (if any). Separate the major elements with a
period. Page numbers are only necessary if the source s an article,
but if it is a book, you need not indicate them.
The following are some examples of possible sources and the manner by
which you should include them in the Bibliography.
2001.
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1. Segregate the facts from the concepts. You probably know now what
the difference is between this two. Factual data are those information
based on what is existing, something which is of truth and reality.
Conceptual data may be written ideas which you could use as basis for
your study. It is necessary for you to know this so as you would
determine which data can be processed and what are not.
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DON’T. analyze the articles, tables, etc. and their relevance to your
thesis. Ask yourself. Are these really helpful? Are these important?
Can I do without them? You see, not because an article or a clipping
tells you about your topic, it would automatically qualify and be
accepted as data.
Alright, you may be a bit lost about that, but here’s a more
comprehensible way of looking at it. The following is a detailed
discussion of the types of data to be presented and the manner it
should be presented.
However, you have to take note that these are “statistical” data and
so these are data, already processed, initially, by the agency where
you got them. Population, vehicular volume and Growth in Rice
Production are just few samples of such.
1. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
2. PHYSICAL DATA
Macro-Site Data
Political Boundaries
Area and Land Uses
Climate
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3. SECTORAL DATA
Social Services
Economic Services
Physical Infrastructure
4. INDUSTRY PROFILE
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Complex
The tourism industry Historic town renewal plans
Some of the basic data that make up the industry profile are the
following:
Primary data come from original sources. They are not commentary about
the topic, but rather consist of information that must be commented
upon the succeeding topics.
You may be already identified these tables and graphs at the beginning
of your book you might be wondering where this will appear. If you
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think that it they will all come in a single bulk in just a single
chapter, think again. This chapter may contain most of these figures
but you are free to present some whenever the need in certain
discussions arises. We are architects and so this graphs and
illustrations will be our most effective tools in expressing our
thoughts.
Now, the question you might have In your mind is what are these
tables? What about these graphs? A statistical table or simply table
is defined as a systematic arrangement of related data in which
classes of numerical facts or data are given each a row and their
subclasses are given each a column in order to present the
relationship of the sets or numerical facts or data in a definite,
compact and understandable form of forms. Now, you may probably
recognize a table when you see one, right?
1. Bar graphs
a. Single vertical bar graph
b. Sing horizontal bar graph
c. Grouped or multiple or composite bar graph
d. Duo-directional or bilateral bar graph
e. Subdivided or component bar graph
f. Histogram
2. Linear graphs
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You might just be copying these tables, graphs and charts as part of
your presentation of data. But you think it would be more fruitful on
your part if you’ll be doing these by yourself? Why not? You might
have already gathered your data and so you are in the right position
to process them yourself and show your readers these data as you
understand them.
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Lastly, you have to maker sure that all the specific concerns
are discussed properly, and their relevance to the project
stated clearly. It is also advisable that you choose cases that
are related to your thesis in distinctly varied ways. One case
study may be concerned with a project similar to your proposal
and another which employs a technology which is comparable to
what you are proposing. You might also be able to draw more
reliable conclusions by studying both local and foreign cases.
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How will you do this? First, you have to orient your readers why
you choose the topics as your focal points of study. You can
very well do this be reiterating the roots of your problem(s).
You have to go back to the background you have presented in
Chapter 1 and stress the need for the topics to be studied so as
to have a clear solution, in the end, to the problems posted in
your statement.
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basic, why not? But the meat of the discussion should be on the
psychology of children. Focus! You may also want to mention
cases and examples, but you must not discuss them fully as you
would be required to do in the Case Studies.
APPLICATION
It was mentioned earlier that your research will not have any
value or significance unless you connect it with a project which
will manifest the studies made. This is the part where you
relate your topics with your project. Let us continue our
example in the behavioral analysis. It will be pertinent to note
not only the theories on behavior but its application to the
architectural sense as well. You may have to study theories on
perception, color and space to support your documented research
when applied to the “real thing”. Again, you have to be
specific. Bear in mind that what you’ll be writing should be
something which will give your readers a clear understanding of
your thesis and not confuse them. So go straight to the point.
However, you will not stop when you have given the application.
You still have to cross examine these data. Check on its
economic feasibility and other areas you might thinks its
appropriate for study.
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Your situation can have you viewing the problem in a new light.
You might need to come up with a NEW STATEMENT. Just don’t veer
too far from what you have previously stated. Keep this in mind:
new view but not necessarily new problem.
If, on the other hand, all the facts just reinforced the problem
you stated in Chapter 1, do not feel compelled to change your
statement. All you have to do in this case is to RESTATE it.
That simple.
3.1.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
So, you have made the problem clearer and more specific than
before. What do you do now? That would be what you will be
discussing in this section. This maybe a statement of what
structure you have concluded is necessary to solve the problem.
If there are concepts and theories that need to be studied and
discussed further so that you could arrive at the most effective
design solutions, you have to present them along with your
recommendations. Same goes if you think that there is a new
design approach which has to be developed and used for the
proposal.
3.2 SITE
It must be our primary concern as designers to find the most ideal
combination of function and location. We might struggle to create a
very well-contrived plan but if the structure juts out like a sore
thumb in its location, all the programs we use and the designs we
produce can come to nothing.
For this chapter, you will have to conduct several types of studies at
several levels to come up with the best site for your proposed
project. The extent of what you will discuss here will depend
basically on how important and influential the choice of site is to
your project. Your focus should be on the appropriateness and
feasibility of possible sites to the intended use. And to determine
this, you have to conduct comprehensive analyses of the
characteristics of the site and its surrounding areas. Of course, in
the end, you will have to indicate how these factors and attributes
will affect the project.
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3.2.1 BACKGROUND
With a reliable knowledge and a vision of your project proposal,
you can now determine its requisite site requirements and the
possibility of having to seek for alternatives. Your site may be
given, but that does not mean that you will have a lighter
workload than if you have to look for one. At this point, at
least acquaint your reader with your situation (or predicament?)
and what you plan to do about it. If the site is given, brief
your reader about pertinent matters in regard to it (location,
size, etc.). If it’s not, don’t whine. Just tell the reader so
and give him an idea of your game plan for your quest.
Then, select the most ideal one. This is the site that could
meet the project requirements with the least modifications. Try
to see if the score in the rating system validates your choice.
The table on Figure 2 is very effective tool in selecting the
best possible site for your proposal.
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MICRO SITE ANALYSIS which includes the specific area within the
property boundaries and its immediate environs; and the MACRO
SITE ANALYSIS which includes the examination of the site
environs up to the horizon (sometimes even beyond). In this
analysis, the condition of various factors such as utilities,
natural elements, climate, infrastructure and sensuous
characters are presented. Of course, a discussion of how these
factors affect your project always follows.
Please DON’T. Your site needs not be perfect. Ideal, yes. But perfect?
Not really. If some important elements are absent in your site, say
water system, tell the truth. They might sound like big limitations
now, but in the end they will serve you better as useful design
determinants. So, the more honest you are about the,, the better.
1 2 3 4 5
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I.
REGIONAL
Climate (temperature,
Soils (Stability,
fertility, depth)
declining)
Transportation (highways
And transit)
Relative cost)
Landscape Character
Cultural opportunities
and describe)
Exceptional features
II.
COMMUNITY
Travel (time-distance to
Travel experience
(pleasant or unpleasant)
Community Ambiance
School
Shopping
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Churches
Cultural opportunities
(library, auditorium)
Police, etc.)
Medical facilities
Governance
Taxes
and describe)
Exceptional features
III.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Landscape character
Lifestyle
Compatibility of
Proposed uses
hazards, attractiveness)
Schools
Convenience (schools,
Service, etc.)
Open space
Storms, planning)
Etc.
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Utilities (availability
And cost)
and describe)
Exceptional features
PROPERTY
(suitability)
On-Site “feel”
Relative cost of
Site Drainage
lack of)
Neighbors
Relationship to
Circulation patterns
Development
and describe)
Exceptional features
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BUILDING SITE
Topographic “fit” of
Programmed user
Gradient of Approaches
entrance drive
And breeze
Views
Privacy
glare
Visual impact of
neighboring uses
neighboring uses
Proximity to utility
leads
LEGEND
* - Severe limitation
# - Moderate constraint
^ - condition good
Note: By substituting numbers for symbols, the arithmetic sum for each
column would give a general indication of its relative overall rating.
It is to be realized, however, that in some cases a single severe
constraint or superlative feature might well overwhelm the statistics
and become the deciding factor.
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Baselines are starting points from which the design proper takes off.
They help paint the backdrop against which the research undertaking is
being pursued. Baseline information can be the bases for formulating
the parameter by which the outcomes of the researchers can be
evaluated.
1. MAPS
Base Maps
2. EXISTING STANDARDS
Quality Standards
Performance Standards
These are factors and considerations in regard to the site that will
be relevant to your project. You may begin the section by presenting a
Code Survey. Look for local laws, codes and policies (or even
international ones, if necessary) that will help you define the limits
of your development. Aside from these, you also have to identify and
study other factors that are not based on the law. These will include
phenomena which are natural to your site (flooding, strong coastal
winds, etc.), local ordinances, local customs and community
characteristics. Of course, in the end, you will have to state how
will all these affect your site.
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A. PHYSICAL DATA
1. GEOLOGY and soil
Underlying geology, rock character and depth
Soil type and depth, value as engineering
material and as plant medium
Fill, ledge, slide and subsidence
2. WATER
Existing water bodies - variation and purity
Natural and man-made drainage channels - flow,
capacity, purity
Surface drainage patterns, amounts blockages,
undrained depressions
Water table - elevation and fluctuation,
springs
Water supply - quantity and quality
3. TOPOGRAPHY
Pattern of Landforms
Contours
Slope and Analysis
Visibility Analysis
Circulation Analysis
Unique Features
4. CLIMATE
Regional data on variation of temperature,
precipitation, humidity, solar angle,
cloudiness, wind direction and force
Local micro-climates: warm and cool slopes,
air drainage, wind deflection and local
breeze, shade,heat reflection and storage, plant
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indicators
5. ECOLOGY
Dominant plant/animal communities - location
and relative stability
Their dependence on existing factors,
self-regulation, sensitivity to change
Mapping of general plant cover, including
wooded areas
Specimen trees to be retained: their location,
spread, species and elevation at base
6. MAN-MADE STRUCTURES
Existing buildings: outline, location, floor
elevation, type, condition, us
Circulation facilities (roads, paths, rails,
transit, etc.): location, capacity,
condition
Utilities (Storm and sanitary sewers, water,
gas, electricity, telephone, steam, etc.):
location, elevation, capacity
7. Sensuous Qualities
Character and relation of visual spaces
Viewpoints, vistas and visual focal points
Character and rhythm of visual sequences
Quality and variation of light, sound, smell
and feel
B. CULTURAL DATA
1. Resident and using population
Number and composition
Social structures and institution
Economic structure
Political structure
Current changes and problems
5. Images
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C. DATA CORRELATION
Should your thesis have the behavior of the users as its main
thrust, you should expand this part and have a through and in
depth out-put. You may not only be dealing with the activities of
the users for the time being would most probably extend your
analysis to the culture of these people. Moreover, this would
entail a comparative analysis of your users’ behavior with that
of other paradigms.
Again, this is an analysis and so you would not just list the
activities. Apart from identifying the activities and behavior of
your users, whether individual or group, you are to give your
readers a hint of why you’re discussing these things. How will
these affect the overall concept of your thesis? In what way
can these behaviors be a toll in designing an effective
working environment? Do you need to apply your knowledge in space
engineering?
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Technology
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Cost
Time
Resource Requirements
Site Conditions
Location/ Surrounding
Areas
Land Area and Configuration
Access
Climate
Landforms
Topography
Geology
Soil Type
Water Bodies
Hydrology
Oceanology
Vegetation
Atmosphere/ Air quality
Fish and Wildlife
Visual Resources
Danger/ Hazard prone areas
Existing Structures
Infrastructure
Utilities
Water
Power
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Drainage Communication
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Sources of Funds
Sales
Shared Taxation
Funding Terms
Borrowing/ Loans
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Grants
Financial Benchmarks
Profitability
(
Return of Investment (ROI) = Net Income
)
Total Investment
Project Life
Total Investment
Total Sales
1. SITE PREPARATION
Estimate 1% to 3% of building cost
2. PARKING
Refer to required ratio to get number of parking slots.
Estimate per slot.
3. ROADWAYS
Estimate per linear meter
4. SIDEWALKS AND TERRACES
Estimate 1%to 7% of building cost
5. WALLS AND SCREENS
Estimate .5% to 2.5% of building cost
CHAPTER 4: PROGRAMMING
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This has been proven as one of the most effective, if not the
most effective way of programming spaces. Its is a tow-fold
analysis, which initially caters to the qualities of the project,
and later on translated to be quantitative one. Let us first deal
with the first one. Let us first deal with the first one.
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CHAPTER 5: SYNTHESIS
You’re almost done! This is the phase where you summarize all
that has been done in the book. You may have to go back to your
objectives and see if you were able to meet them or restructure
your concepts so that your readers will have a clearer vision of
what you plan to do in your Design 10 (knock on wood!). This
chapter will be your LINK to your translation in your bid for an
architectural degree. How about that for a push?!
The discussions to follow may not be new to you for you have been
doing this for the past four, five, or more so years in your stay
in the institute. These are the basic contents of your concept
board. Something you should have known now by heart.
And two, it may be YOUR OWN notions for the project. Yes, you can
be a philosopher, why not? And so, you are able to conceive your
own thought especially if you were the one who proposed the
study. CAUTION: you may be tempted to user philosophies you
already have used for your design plates when you were in your
lower years. Why not? But see to it that it would be applicable
for your project you’re doing. Philosophies are NOT FIXED. On
the contrary, they should be FLEXIBLE.
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This may be simple for you to understand if you were getting high
grades in your concept boards in your past design subjects. If
not, here’s a review of your design concepts. Basically there are
five (5) types of concepts in architecture. See if you can still
remember them.
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So, how well did you fare in remembering them? You don’t have
to use all five at the same time. You just have to choose
which of the fits your thesis.
CHAPTER 6: TRANSLATION
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