ARCHITECTURAL

 U.G  THESIS  PROJECT-­‐  STRUCTURE  FOR  SYNOPSIS  

Synopsis  determines  your  level  of  understanding  of  the  chosen  topic  as  your  thesis  project.  
 
1.1   Introduction  
1.2   Motivation  
1.3   Objectives  and  scope  and  limitations  
1.4   Description  of  the  research  work  
1.5   Conclusions/  Summary  of  the  work  
1.6   List  of  case  studies  
1.7   List  of  references/literature  case  studies  for  thesis  research  work  
1.8   Identification  of  the  project  site  
 
 
 
1.1   Introduction  
Briefly  explain  the  Architectural/technological/social  relevance  or  significance  of  the  
research  work  of  your  thesis  topic.  Be  precise  and  include  only  relevant  background  
material  in  the  introduction.  Provide  information  on  past  works  by  way  of  giving  
appropriate  references.  
It  should  not  exceed  two  pages.  
 
1.2   Motivation  
Develop  further  on  the  background  material  provided  in  the  introduction  and  bring  
the  subject  of  thesis  in  the  chosen  area  of  research  in  to  focus.  Emphasize,  based  on  
the  content  status,  the  importance  of  the  research  problem  identified.  Should  
broadly  indicate  the  existing  drawbacks  and  why  further  research  is  required  to  
eliminate  the  drawbacks  and  find  new  architectural  solutions.  Identification  of  these  
should  be  brief  and  can  be  out  of  the  scope  of  the  Thesis  subject  but  has  to  be  
relevant.  You  can  enumerate  those  technical  challenges  one  has  to  address  to  solve  
the  problems/drawbacks  posed  herein  to  place  emphasis  on  the  quality  of  the  
research  work.  
This  should  not  exceed  two  pages.  
 
1.3   Objectives  and  Scope  and  Limitations  
State  precisely  the  questions  for  which  the  answers  are  sought  through  this  thesis  
work.  Define  the  conceptual,  analytical,  experimental  and/or  methodological  
boundaries  within  which  the  exercise  will  be  carried  out.  
Admit  with  clarity  the  limitation  of  such  a  research  and  difficulties  involved.  
It  should  not  exceed  two  pages.  
 
1.4   Description  of  the  research  work  
Keeping  in  mind  the  limitations  and  difficulties,  identify  the  precise  architecturally  
relevant  area  and  extent  of  research  that  is  attempted  by  you.  
Detailed  explanations  of  the  drawbacks/problems  identified  for  which  you  are  
seeking  possible  architectural  solutions.  
Explain  in  detail  how  the  case  studies  will  help  in  resolving  the  drawbacks/problems  

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 identified.  
Clear  the  role  of  literature  studies/observations/experiments/questionnaires.  
Define  with  clarity  the  detailed  methodology  to  be  adopted  that  will  lead  you  
towards  the  Architectural  solutions.  
Explain  in  detail  how  you  are  specifically  equipped  to  deal  with  the  research  and  find  
Architectural  solutions.  
It  should  not  exceed  10-­‐12  pages.  
 
1.5   Conclusions/Summary  of  the  work  
Highlight  major  conclusions  you  are  working  towards.  Clearly  bring  out  not  only  the  
generally  useful  advantages  arising  out  of  the  work  but  also  the  architectural  
advancement  you  are  seeking  through  this  Thesis  work.  If  there  are  no  conclusions  
at  the  moment,  then  enumerate  the  possible  contributions  of  the  work.  
Maximum  two  pages.  
 
1.6   List  of  Case  studies  
List  the  probable  Case  Studies  and  the  relevant  areas  of  study  possible  in  them.  
Indicate  clearly  why  you  have  chosen  the  particular  case  for  study.  Make  a  mention  
of  the  ease/difficulty  of  approach  and  obtaining  information  from  the  case  studies.  
Also  give  the  time  frame  required  for  each  case  study.  
It  should  not  exceed  one  page.  
 
1.6.1   CASE  STUDY  
 
A  case  study  is  an  in-­‐depth  investigation  of  a  single  individual,  group,  incident,  or  
community.  Other  ways  include  experiments,  surveys,  or  analysis  of  archival  
information  
 
1.6.2   What  is  the  purpose  of  conducting  a  Case  Study?  
 
As  the  term  Case  Study  suggests,  it  is  the  study  of  a  particular  case  that  is  similar  to  
your  topic  of  design  project.  Doing  a  case  study  will  help  you  understand  the  various  
aspects  that  you  have  to  consider  while  designing.  
 
1.6.3   Literature  Case  study  
Before  you  start  with  your  live  case  studies,  first  of  all  do  a  complete  literature  case  
study.  Literature  case  study  consists  of  reading  everything  you  can  find  on  the  
subject.  You  can  refer  books  in  a  library,  use  Google  to  look  up  research  papers,  
check  out  Standard  Code  books  and  statutory  laws  or  from  technical  journals.  
A  literature  case  study  would  give  you  a  vague  idea  about  your  topic.  There  will  be  
various  questions  arising  in  your  mind  after  you  are  done  with  your  literature  case  
study.  To  find  the  answers  to  those  questions,  you  will  have  to  go  for  minimum  two  
live  case  studies….  
Always  possibly  go  for  more  than  two  different  case  studies,  because  a  comparative  
case  study  of  two  or  more  different  cases  is  very  important  and  helpful.  
 
1   While  you  are  doing  your  first  case  study,  say  a  Villa,  go  for  a  smaller  Villa  first  so  that  

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 you  can  figure  out  the  basic  minimum  requirements.  
2   In  your  second  case  study,  go  for  an  extremely  lavish  Villa  so  that  you  are  aware  of  the  
maximum  requirements  you  could  give.  
(Being  able  to  provide  maximum  or  minimum  requirements  in  your  design  is  very  
important)  
If  there  are  some  requirements  that  you  haven’t  come  across  while  doing  your  case  
studies  but  you  went  through  it  while  you  were  doing  a  literature  case  study,  then  try  
implementing  those  requirements  in  your  design.  
 
1.6.4   Eleven  most  important  things  to  analyze  in  any  Case  Study  
 
1   Environment  and  micro-­‐climate
Analyzing  the  surrounding  environment  and  the  micro-­‐
climate   of   that   place   will   help   understand   the   reason   of   the   orientation   of   the  
structure,  the  kind  of  roof  chosen  and  the  materials  used  in  its  construction.  
 
2   User   behavior   and   requirements   Studying   the   functioning   of   a   particular   place,   say   a  
Hospital,   is   very   important;   without   which   you   will   not   be   able   to   figure   out   the  
requirements   and   the   area   that   should   be   allotted   for   each   of   the   requirements.  
Talking   to   people   working   at   that   place   (Hospital),   will   help   you   figure   out   if   the  
requirements  that  are  provided  are  adequate  and  he  area  that  is  allotted  is  sufficient  
for  its  efficient  working.  
 
3   Utility   and   space   enhancement
Study   of   Utilitarian   facilities   of   a   particular   case   is   also  
important.  Various  measures  taken  to  enhance  a  particular  space  should  be  analyzed.  
 
4   Form  and  Function
Analyzing  the  reason  behind  the  form  of  that  particular  building…and  
how  it  merges  with  the  surrounding  environment.  Form  and  Function  go  hand  in  hand.  
The   form   of   the   building   should   be   able   to   convey   the   function   of   the   building.   A   lot  
of   Architects   say   “Form   follows   Function”.   As   an   example,   an   institutional   building  
should   not   end   up   looking   like   a   museum   or   a   disco.   Some   other   Architects   might  
disagree   with   that   philosophy.   They’d   say   that   the   function   of   a   structure   keeps  
changing  but  changing  the  form  of  the  building  every  time  its  function  changes  is  not  
possible.  They  say,  Adopt  a  “Universal  Design  Scheme”.  
 
5   Horizontal  and  vertical  circulation
Horizontal  circulation  consists  of  elements  such  as  the  
corridors   and   lobbies.   Vertical   circulation   includes   elevators,   staircases,   ramps   etc.  
The  efficiency  of  the  placement  of  these  services  should  be  analyzed.  
 
6.   Site  Planning  and  Landscape  detailing
-­‐  deals  with  different  aspects  considered  in  
site  planning  in  greater  detail.  
 
7.   Structural  details  such  as  Column  and  Beam  Design,  Steel  and  Composite  
structures
Understanding  and  analyzing  the  structural  details  is  also  important.  For  
example,  large  span  structures  such  as  Auditoriums  use  trusses  or  heavy  I-­‐section  
steel  beams  and  sometimes  shell-­‐roofing  that  involve  construction  of  Ring  beams  
whereas  in  small  span  structures,  RCC  construction  is  used.  
 

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8.  Building  Services  such  as  Fire  Alarm  system,  HVAC,  Water  supply  systems
The  working  
of  Fire  Alarm  system,  Electrical,  HVAC  and  Water  supply  systems  should  be  
examined  and  their  space  requirements  are  to  be  analyzed.  Also  any  other  services  
like  access  control  system,  fire  suppression  system,  CCTV  etc.  
 
 
9.  Design  detailing  considering  the  Barrier-­‐free  environment
Implementation  of  the  
Barrier-­‐free  architecture  for  comfortable  access  to  disabled  people.  Most  public  
buildings  have  mandatory  accessibility  systems  for  the  disabled.  Check  out  the  
differently  abled  persons’  requirement  as  per  Indian  requirements.  
 
10.   Socio-­‐economic  profile  of  user  group
It  might  also  be  important  to  find  out  the  
socio-­‐economic  profile  of  the  people  using  the  services  so  as  to  determine  their  
requirements  and  available  resources.  
 
11.   Parking  details  and  standards
Measure  the  allotted  parking  area  on  site,  say  for  ten  
cars,   then   calculate   the   average   area   for   each   car   and   compare   it   with   the   areas  
specified  in  TSS  (Time  Savers  Standards)  and  local  bye  laws.  
   
Conducting  a  case  study  is  hard  work.  Sometimes,  it  is  so  small,  it  could  be  done  in  
days,  but  on  other  occasions,  it  takes  weeks  to  document  and  compile  all  the  data.  It  
involves  going  on-­‐site,  meeting  and  taking  to  people,  lots  of  traveling,  plenty  of  
photography.    
 
This  is  where  you  learn  from  reality,  as  opposed  to  only  theoretical  knowledge.  It  
would  give  you  many  insights  and  ideas  and  let  you  peek  into  the  minds  of  
professional  architects  and  designers  who  have  used  years  of  experience  and  
improvisation  to  design  and  create  incredible  structures.  
 
 
1.7   List  of  references/literature  studies  for  thesis  research  work  
List  the  publications/books  you  have  already  identified  for  your  literature  study.  List  
only  published  or  accepted  books/papers.  
Never  claim  contents  of  the  publications/books  as  your  own.  Always  give  credit  
where  it  is  due.  
Maximum  one  page.  
 
1.8   Identification  of  Project  site  
The  student  has  to  identify  a  possible  and  suitable  site  for  the  proposal  where  the  
conclusions  and  solutions  can  be  carried  out.  The  project  site  may  or  may  not  be  a  
live  project  but  should  definitely  be  suitable  for  the  chosen  project.  
Maximum  one  page.  

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