SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

THESIS PROPOSAL
ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN THESIS
Definition:
 ARCHITECTURAL THESIS:
An academic research project that focuses
on answering questions and offering
potential solutions to significant problems.
 The GOAL:

To better understand the phenomenon,

offer new insight about its occurrence, and
suggest actions that may help to alleviate
the problem.
I. INTRODUCTION:
 The Architecture Thesis Projects seeks to support and
enhance the study of sustainable and energy-efficient
building practices in Architectural Education.
 Thesis students are encouraged to explore the use of
new materials and strategies for building, and the
integration of aesthetics and technology for high-
performing, cutting edge architecture.

 The objective of this integration is to encourage students

and develop excellence in architectural planning and
design that integrates environmentally responsive design
strategies.
A GOOD THESIS PROPOSAL IS
HALF-WAY TO A GOOD THESIS.
 Before writing the thesis proposal, a
student should have already taken most
of coursework and done an extensive
literature review.
 He/she should have a solid
understanding on the background
materials and previous research done
by other researchers in the same field.
II. PREPARING A THESIS
PROPOSAL:
 The goal of thesis prep is the
development of original research and
design methodologies that are founded
in contemporary cultural discourse,
extending and contributing to
architectural and design culture. At the
conclusion, a projective thesis proposal,
documenting the speculative writing,
research and analysis performed.
 The Architecture Thesis Project is a two-
fold undertaking by the graduating students
of BS Architecture.
 The Thesis would be a Research / Design
Project with a research project focusing on
any architectural concept / ideas / principles
/ design approach that would be applicable
to the Design Project.
 The research undertaking would generate
new ideas in designing particular
building types that would make the design
endeavor more innovative and creative. 
RESEARCH AND DESIGN:
 Both involve processes of discovery that would lead
to new knowledge.
 Furthermore, Design is closely associated to
Creativity. “Being creative is seeing the same thing
as everybody else but thinking of something
different.”
 It can be defined as the ability to take existing objects
and combining them in different ways for new
purposes.
 Creativity can produce novel and useful ideas and
solutions to everyday problems and challenges.
THE RESEARCH PROJECT:
 It is aimed at gaining knowledge that would
upgrade the quality of our built
environment and for the advancement
of the architectural profession.
 The Design Project, on the other hand, is
viewed as an activity that would generate
proposals in changing something that
already exist into something better.
A. THESIS PROPOSAL STEPS:
 Identify possible Develop and choose;
 The breadth, depth and scope
design projects to of architectural discipline.
work on as well  An awareness of general

as introduce the issues, opportunities, and

concerns within the discipline
research project through readings of current
that they will architectural practices.
 An area of specialization from
relate to the the general issues and
design project. concerns.
 Queries that speculate on the
issues, opportunities, and
concerns in the area of
specialization.
Thesis Proposal Example:
 The student can  local,
start initially by  regional,
identifying issues  national or
and concern such  even global
as;
Determining a
specific research
problem,
say Housing
Backlog through the
ff.;
Question:
 why is there a  – it is due to the;
housing backlog? 1. Inadequacies of
It continues with a conventional
search for possible building
cause to the materials and
problem that could 2. systems to cope
have architectural up with house
significance such production
as; targets.
 The problem now  – House
has become an production rate
architectural can substantially
concern. increase if housing
 A possible components
architectural can be
intervention can be standardized.
deduced from the
above statements;
 With that, the general  From the above
problem has now been process, a possible
reduced to an Design Project
architectural problem
focusing on the
could be “A Housing
derivation of standards Prototype for a Low-
for housing Cost Community for
components. North Rail
 This can still be, Settlers” and the
however, trimmed down Research Project
to a more focused and could be “Derivation
specific derivation of of Standards for
standards for low-cost
Low-Cost Housing
housing components.
Components”.
OTHER EXAMPLE OF THESIS
PROJECTS:
1. Proposed Marikina Center 3. School for the Deaf and
of Performing Arts (A Blind (Design of
Neural Network Analysis technology-based
of Auditoria Design).
learning environments)
4. Redevelopment of
2. The SM Call-Center Co
mplex (An investigation of Tahanang Walang
indoor environmental Hagdan (Modeling
factors that may influence human expertise in
comfort and health of designing building
workers in office solutions for homes of
buildings) persons with disabilities)
OTHER EXAMPLE OF THESIS
PROJECTS:
5. Proposed Quezon City 7. The Mactan Meditel
Jail (An Analysis of the (Thermal comfort
Physical Environment and hybrid
in Juvenile Justice
ventilation)
Facilities: the Physical
Environment in a
Complex System) 8. Sports Medica Mall
6. The Intramuros Hotel (An integrated
(Acknowledging and medical, sports and
evaluating the social shopping complex)
and aesthetic values of
heritage landscapes)
B. RESOURCE AND TIME
FRAME:
 When you write a In Writing the Research
Proposal should:
thesis make sure  Contribute in advancing the
that you can knowledge of your field of
manage it within study.
your present  Provide a persuasive
argument and justification.
available time  Provide a time schedule
and resources. and completion of the thesis.
 Indicate the likely end
results of your research
 Write clearly in good English
C. RESEARCH TOPIC:
You may like to ask the following questions
in deciding on a research topic;
 What is the contribution to knowledge
in your field of study?
 Has it been done by others before?
 Are data, if needed, available?
 What are the expected end results?
 Can the thesis be done within the time
period of study?
D. DEVELOPING A FOCUSED
PROJECT:
Writing Thesis/Dissertation
Proposals
Purpose:
 Justify and plan a Audience:
research project.
 Show how your project  your academic
contributes to existing
research. advisor and
 Demonstrate that you committee (Board
understand how to of Critic)
conduct discipline-specific
research in an acceptable
time-frame.
YOUR PROPOSAL DESCRIBES
YOUR PROPOSED PLAN OF WORK:
 What you intend to study (scope and
research questions).
 How you intend to study your topic
(methodology).
 Why this topic needs to be studied
(significance).
 When you will complete this work
(timeline).
III. ARCHITECTURAL THESIS
PROPOSAL FORMAT/
STRUCTURE CONTENT:
I. TITLE/Cover page
II. Approval Sheet
III. ABSTRACT
IV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
V. TABLE OF CONTENTS
VI. LIST OF MAPS, CHARTS, GRAPHS &
TABLES
VII. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1: Background – Problem statement;
Research questions
1.2: Objective – Sub-objectives
1.3: Methodology
1.4: Scope and Parameters
1.5: Rationale and Justification
1.6: Expected results
1.7: Use of Study
CHAPTER 2 :
LITERATURE REVIEW:
2.1 Definitions and descriptions (background of
literature review)
2.2 Different authors and their books, articles etc.
(Summary of whatever literature reviewed)
2.3 Architect’s perspective
2.4 Research Arguments ( view points of different
authors both for and against)
2.5 Theoretical Framework (Identification of the gaps
in arguments where you want to work)
2.6 Conceptual Framework (Hypothesis
development)
CHAPTER 3:RESEARCH DESIGN
3.1: Lessons learned through literature review
3.2: Breakup of Hypothesis in Parameters / Variables; Indicators/Values and
Sources.
3.3: What data shall be collected (Based on Hypothesis breakup)
3.4: What shall be the method to collect the data
3.4.1: Observations
3.4.2: Interviews
3.4.3: More literature review
3.4.4: Questionnaire Survey
3.4.5: Photographic Survey
3.4.6: Map making (GIS/Remote Sensing)
3.4.7: Retrospective Prospective Study or Before and After study
3.4.8: Case studies method etc. Comparison of Local as well as International case
3.4.9: Experimentation (Practical Modeling)
3.5: Method of data presentation
3.6: Method of analysis
CHAPTER 4: ARCHITECTURAL
RESEARCH
4.1: Factual data presentation (Local and
International Case Studies/
Contextual Information)
4.2: Data analysis as per selected method
of Analysis
4.3: Synthesis (Summary of Arguments)
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS &
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1: Summary of Research Findings
5.2: Interpretation of Research Findings
into Design Brief
5.3: Justification of Design Brief
5.4: Site Selection Criteria; Site Selection
and Analysis
5.5: Design Philosophy, Concepts and its
Justification
CHAPTER 6: DESIGN PROPOSAL

6.1: Design Development Process

6.2: Master Planning Process and
Alternatives Development
6.3: Detailed Design Process and Alternative
development
6.4: Proposed Master Plan
6.5: Proposed Detailed Design (Floor Plans,
Elevations, Sections, Views, Details blow
ups, Block Models and Detailed Models).
CHAPTER 07: RESEARCH
APPRAISAL
7.1: Brief Presented to the Jury
7.2: Questions asked by Jury Members
7.3: Answers given to Jury Members
7.4: Jury’s Final Remarks (Unanswered
questions)
7.5: Avenues for further research in future
CHAPTER 8: REFERENCES &
BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 9: ANNEXES
Author Personal Info & Others
IV. TIPS ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS TITLE:
PROPOSAL WRITING
AND ANXIETY:
PROPOSAL-SPECIFIC
ADVICE
1. Understand that the 4. Remember that your
proposal will be negotiated-- proposal is not meant
be prepared to revise! to limit ideas, but to
2. Think of the proposal as an
introduction to your thesis or
help you think
dissertation. practically.
3. Remember that the 5. Ask colleagues to
proposal is not a binding form a writing group.
contract.
6. Talk to your advisor!
As your proposal will probably go through several drafts before you
are ready to submit it, you should set aside each draft for a few days,
or even a week, before attempting to revise it.
This will give you some distance from the draft, enabling you to spot
mistakes or gaps in logic that you simply could not see before. It also
allows you time to show it to your supervisor to get his comments and
advice.
V. HABITS AND ACTIONS WILL
ENABLE SUCCESS:
 A thesis project  Six (6) Habits &
requires discipline Actions
in planning and Considerations for
execution from start Thesis Project
to finish. Some key Success
considerations
include the
following:
Six (6) Habits & Actions
Considerations
1. Visioning: 4. Effort :
take some time to think thesis is an extra project that will
about what you would like require extra time and effort to
complete.
your finished project to look
5. Barriers to success: identify
like.
those factors that are preventing
2. Organization: you from doing your best work
workplace, calendar, 6. Daily focus and energy:
materials, ideas, records, Momentum is a critical element
meetings, files; make the of completing a high quality
changes needed to enable thesis project.
your success Reading, thinking, discussing,
planning, and writing should
3. Timeline: become routine actions.
Develop a written timeline
for completion
VI. THE SUPERVISOR /
ADVISER:
Design and adequacy of
To advise the students
methods, sources of data and
on all aspects of the access to fields of
observation, the analysis and
research project interpretation of results, and,
including: when applicable, assisting
with the ethics approval
Topic area and
process
literature Focus of the argument, its
Feasibility relation to and implications for
Research questions the theoretical literature on
which it draws
Specification Structure and style of the
Time scale thesis or research paper.
WHAT CONSTITUTES
PLAGIARISM?
 using someone else’s ideas or wording
without giving due credit.
VII. OVERVIEW OF DISCIPLINARY
INFLUENCES ON TOPIC SELECTION
SCIENCES HUMANITIES SOCIAL SCIENCES/ APPLIED
PROFESSIONALFIELDS

RANGE restricted range of choice; students usually required to wide range of practices: from
suitable topics made available initiate own topics; take into close direction of science
by department according to account supervisor’s interests model to deliberate absence of
staff expertise, research and availability of data direction of the humanities
interest and research funding model

DEGREE OF students may have more supervisor reluctant to topics and research questions
FREEDOM freedom on deciding research interfere in topic choice, often derived from field of
question, but often close theoretical perspective, student’s professional practice
direction by supervisor method, specific research
question

GUIDANCE/ research question decided supervisor guides student in identification of specific

TIMING early; schedules, timelines, understanding how the research question may take
deadlines are important chosen theoretical framework considerable time as students
is situated against existing require a good deal of
theoretical development in the disciplinary and methodological
field or in related fields grounding before they
are able to formulate specific
research questions
REFERENCES:
 Philippine Architecture College Notes
from - UST, FEU UE SLU UP Diliman -
College of Architecture.
 Research and Thesis Writing, Jose Arias
Ade.
 PROPOSED
ARCHITECTRAL
THESIS
PROJECTS
Urban Planning and Transport:
1. Airports Design.
2. Train stations.
3. Urban transport planning.
4. Mass Rapid Transit System (MTRS) Study and
Station.
5. Integrated Transportation Node.
6. Bus Terminal Cum Commercial Complex.
7. International Cruise terminal.
8. Redevelopment around metro and MRTS
Corridor.
9. Architecture in motion.
Bridges and Communication Towers:

1. Urban public squares.

2. Promenades and streets architecture
planning.
3. Urban parks.
4. Peripheral parks design.
Urban Monuments and Land
Art Architecture
1. Cultural facilities.
2. Bio-inspired research center.
3. fish farming and learning center.
4. Museums design.
5. Art galleries.
Cultural Centers and Foundations:
School and Universities
1. building/campus.
2. Libraries Building design.
3. Religious buildings.
4. architecture for humanity.
5. International Convention Center.
6. Center for self employment and
provision of education for women.
Leisure Facilities.
Auditoriums.
1. Theater and Cinemas.
2. Sport Facilities.
3. Film and Research Institute.
4. Theme parks and Attractions.
5. Bars, Discotheques ,and Game Rooms.
6. Shopping malls.
7. Stores and showrooms.
8. Restaurants.
Public Buildings, Institutions, and
Offices 
1. Fashion Technology 8. Tribal Heritage
Park. Museum.
2. Public Bodies. 9. Corporate Buildings.
3. Public Service Buildings 10. Convention and
4. Institute For Exhibition Centers.
Entrepreneurship and 11. Fashion Technology
Technology. Park.
5. Urban Offices Complex. 12. Research Centers.
6. Digital Morphogenesis. 13. Cricket stadium display.
7. Banks. 14. Factories.
15. Skyscrapers design.
 Home Designs Dissertation
1. Multi family Urban Homes.
2. Hotels and Residences.
3. Semi-detached and Row Houses.
4. Multi family Suburban Homes.
5. Single family suburban homes.
6. Low Cost Housing.
7. Single family country homes.
8. Single family homes by the sea.
9. Example of organic building form in
architecture.
Urban Design and City/Town Planning 
1. Advanced Trauma Center and 11. Cancer Hospital and
Hospital. Research Center.
2. Aquarium -Aqua display and
Research Center.
12. Aqua Marine Park.
3. Mass Rapid Transit System (MTRS) 13. Archaeological Survey of
Study and Station. India – Research and
4. Institute and Studios for Gaming and Training Institute.
Animation, Multimedia Film City. 14. Low Cost Housing.
5. Center of Excellence for Lighting.
15. Drug De-addiction and
6. Waterfront Development – Beach
Convention and Exhibition Center. Rehabilitation Center.
7. Integrated Transformational Node. 16. Auto mobile Research and
8. Architecture For Hills: A Site Training Institute.
Responsive Settlement. 17. Fashion Technology Park.
9. Forest Research and Training
Institute.
18. Tribal Heritage Museum.
10. Urban Entertainment Center. 19. Digital Morphogenesis and
Its Implementation.
20. School of Art, Design and
Technology.
Approval Sheet & Transmittal
Cover/ Title Page
THE END