Compilation of Ar. Mike Guerrero's Thesis tips.

(divided into 4 parts; before,

book, boards and battlefield.)
Before
1. Choose a site with COMPLETE DATA, then propose the BEST USE for the
site. Occasionally, site data may not be readily available for the students due to
privacy issues. It is best that site data be gathered for several sites before the
thesis proposal. With each available site, try to think of projects that would be the
best for the specific site.
2. Do a FACILITY CHECK for a 1 kilometer, 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer radius
around your site. Should a major facility be missing, you could consider that as
your thesis project. Another way of determining the thesis project is to check the
surroundings of the project site for the major facilities in the area. A missing
facility could readily be the thesis project. In any case, a check on the
surroundings will help determine the linkages of the thesis project with the other
facilities around.
3. Identify a PROBLEM IN SOCIETY, then think of an ARCHITECTURAL
SOLUTION. This is a way of identifying your thesis project that responds to a
real need. Observe your community and try to identify problems that should be
corrected to make the community a better place to live in. These could be crime,
traffic, floods, garbage, etc. Once identified, focus on an architectural solution to
that problem.
4. Make FRIENDS with the lower years … they will be useful when you need
additional help in your thesis presentation. When preparing the boards, the
models and the presentation materials, a lot of assistance would be welcome. You
may not be able to rely on your batchmates who are also doing their thesis. The
students in the lower batches may be of help, as they would welcome the
opportunity to be exposed to thesis work.
Book
5. Compile all the LAWS and CODES affecting your project. Laws and codes
must be followed to the letter, as there is no negotiation with the law. Compile all
the laws and codes that cover your project, and illustrating these laws in graphic
form would be helpful.
6. Compile all the STANDARDS related to your project. Standards include space
parameters, structural systems, utility systems, finishes, ergonomics, equipment
sizes, etc. that relate to your thesis project.
7. Determine the KEY PARAMETER of your project and FOCUS your solution
on it. Every project type has a key parameter, such that without it, the project
would fail. These could be security, safety, sizes of aircraft (for airports), etc.
Once you determine that key parameter (or key parameters), focus your research
on the best way to achieve it.
8. Review EXISTING BUILDINGS similar to your project … why reinvent the
wheel? Study similar buildings to give you an idea of how the designers solved
their problems. This review could be a starting point for your own design.
The following outline may be used for the title defense:
- WHY - reasons why you are doing this project - WHY THERE - reasons for
locating this project in a specific place - WHAT'S UNIQUE - what is the
distinctive feature of this project
Boards
9. Make UNIVERSAL DESIGN and SUSTAINABILITY part of the design
objectives. Sustainability is a major concern for the building industry as resources
are starting to dwindle. On the other hand, equality is a key issue in society –
equal access of persons of diverse abilities. These two key points should be part of
every design note: Universal Design is the current topic of my #arkitips series.
10. Principle of AXIS and FOCAL POINTS in site plans, floor plans and
elevations. It is said that the best drawings should be understood instinctively.
Drawings organized with relationships of axis and focal points give a sense of
clarity and organization. The site development plan, the floor plans and the
elevations should have a design axis. When two or more axis meet, you can create
a focal point.
11. Have a REASON for EVERYTHING on your boards. If you don't know why it
is there, remove it/Anything on your design boards opens up a possibility of a
question from the jury. As designers, there has to be a reason for every item, line,
wall, etc. Make sure you review your boards and understand everything on it.
12. Design for an AWESOME project. If it does not excite, redesign. Architectural
design must have some drama. If you think that your design is common-place or
has been seen before, improve it. Redesign until you think it is awesome!
Battlefield
13. DELIVERY is the clincher in the thesis deliberation. Start with an ice breaker,
then state, illustrate and summarize your objectives, and end with bang.The way
your present your thesis project and get the jury to understand your project will
be the main bulk of your grade. Impression counts a lot. Try to limit your design
objectives to three and know them by heart. The whole process of deliberation,
being an academic exercise, is to state your design objectives, illustrate through
your concepts and drawings how you have attained your design objectives, and
finally summarize how you have achieved your design objectives. An ice breaker
at the beginning and a feel-good ending would complete the whole deliberation
plan.
14. Explain your concepts and drawings from MACRO TO MICRO … the big
picture first before the details. When you explain your design concepts, site plan,
floor plan, elevations, etc., always start with the overview or broad strokes. Add in
the details only after having presented the overview.
15. You are the one who knows your thesis best, so have CONFIDENCE … it helps
during deliberation. Of all the people in the room during the deliberation, you
have worked on the project for at least a whole year. No one is more familiar with
the project, so that should give you confidence in your presentation.
16. Thesis is your showcase of what you have learned in architecture school … its
all about ATTITUDE. Rather than facing your thesis with fear, think about it as
the crowning glory of all you have learned in the whole stay in architectural
school. The thesis is like the icing to the cake, as it can cover up your ups and
downs in your student career. Make it something you can be proud about.
#arkithesistips #thesistips #thesis #arkithesis #architecture #arki