Architectural Thesis 9 Ar.

Marirose Ventenilla Vocal, UAP

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THIS LECTURE WAS COMPILED FROM THE FOLLOWING REFERENCES:

Architecture Thesis Manual by EMC Villanueva
RTU Graduate School / Dr. Manuel Ryan Guido
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PART 1: THE PROPOSED PROBLEM
INTRODUCE THE FIRST CHAPTER BEFORE YOU DISCUSS EACH SECTION

CHAPTER IV: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

‘Architecture is not in the empty building, but in the vital interchange between building
and participant.’ – Cesar Pelli (1926 -) Argentine-born US Architect

A. DATA MANAGEMENT / PRESENTATION

After drawing a clear introduction and orienting your readers with the particulars of your thesis, you are supposed to give
them the ‘meat’ o the book in this chapter: a comprehensive report of the facts you have gathered during the course of
your research. However, you should be careful on what to present. This is not a mere tally nor collection of data.
Presentation involves organization.

Introduce the chapter and discussion of results based on the sequence of problems or sub-problems, and research
questions will follow. Devote a separate section to each topic (sub-problem/research question) and its pertinent data.
Present data germane to the topic, discuss the data, interpret the data, and compare results with the literature. The data
may be organized into table, figures, and other concise representations.

The presentation of data is important, but the analysis and interpretation of data is the essence of research. Interpret the
data by attribution, implication and intertwining of results with the conceptual and study literature. Reject or support the
hypothesis.

TIPS:

1. SEGREGATE THE FACTS FROM THE CONCEPTS

You probably know now what the difference is between the two. Factual data are the 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.

2. RECOGNIZE WHAT DATA TO PRESENT

You might be tempted to present several bits of information or a huge number of knowledge about the topics you are
studying. DON’T. Analyze the articles, tables 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.

3. ORGANIZE YOUR DATA

It would be necessary to have proper sequencing the data you will be presenting. Sequencing would mean developing
your data presentation from the simplest to the most complex ideas. It would also help if you would relate topics after
topics so that you would establish the links between them, to later on be connected to the main thing.

STEPS:

A. PRESENT CONDITION
It is inevitable to come up with basic data about your proposal. These come in statistical form. You may have to come back
to your good old junior year in high school to be able to understand this. But you must have done this when you were
doing your Research Methods a year ago. This is as simple as showing factual data to your readers, whether in textual,
tabular or graphical form.

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
Present and Projected Population
Population Distribution by: AGE, SEX, RELIGION, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EMPLOYMENT,
HOUSEHOLD SIZE, NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS BY TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, STRUCTURE
& OWNERSHIP

2. PHYSICAL DATA
THIS COULD BE IN CHAPTERS 6 & 7: MICRO & MACRO SITE ANALYSIS

3. SECTORAL DATA
3A. General Public Services
This covers the administrative systems of the municipality (organizational structure, policy,
development and information management. This also includes the local government’s financial and
fiscal administration.

3B. Social Services

This encompasses education, culture, sports and manpower development; health and sanitation,
nutrition and population policies, housing and community development, social welfare, protective
services and recreational facilities of the municipality.

3C. Economic Services

This covers agriculture, trade and industry, tourism, labor and employment, existing and projected uses
of and demand for land, projected income and employment opportunities, direction and pattern of
growth of agriculture and industry.

3D. Physical Infrastructure

This includes the inventory of roads, transportation, communication, sewage and drainage, power,
telecommunication, drinking water, solid waste disposal, transport terminal, traffic management.

4. INDUSTRY PROFILE
This consists of pieces of information relative to particular industries or aspects of the economy.
Following are some examples of industries that need to be studied relative to a number of thesis topics.

INDUSTRIES THESIS TOPICS

The housing industry Subdivision development / community

development / housing components and materials
 The retail / sales industry Commercial development

The health care industry Pharmaceutical facilities hospital complex

The transport industry Seaport development / multi-modal facilities

The manufacturing industry Industrial development production centers

The food industry Food processing plants

The tourism industry Historic town renewal plans

The telecommunication industry Information technology centers

Some of the basic data that make up the industry profile are the following:

Current Standards of Operation (SOP)

Accomplishments and Shortfalls vis-à-vis industry targets
Administrative / Organizational, Technical/Technological Problems
Outlooks or Envisioned Future Business Environments
Players and Leaders in the Industry
Competition and Competitive Advantages
Opportunities for Improvement

B. PRIMARY DATA
Primary data come from original sources. They are not commentary about the topic, but rather consists of information
that must be commented upon by succeeding topics. Tactics that may be used to gather Primary Data include
INTERVIEWS, LISTENING TO SYMPOSIA OR LECTURES, FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEY, and OBSERVATIONS (PARTICIPATORY AND
NON-PARTICIPATORY).

TACTICS INTERACTIVE NON-INTERACTIVE

INTERVIEWS In-depth Interviews

Key information interview
Career Histories
LISTENING Symposia
Lectures
FOCUS GROUPS Discussions guided to test in small
groups
Participants help construct the
right questions
SURVEYS Multiple sorting
Projective Surveys
OBSERVATION Participant Observation Non-participant observation
stream of behavior
Chronicles
Field notes
Visual Mapping
C. TABLES AND GRAPHS
You may have already identified these tables and graphs at the beginning of your book, but you might be wondering where
these will appear. If you think that 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 discussion arises. We are
architects and so these graphs and illustrations will always be our most effective tools in expressing our thoughts.

ADVANTAGES OF GRAPHS / CHARTS:

1. They attract attention more effectively than tables, and therefore are less likely to be overlooked. Your readers may
skip tables but pause to look at charts.

2. The use of colors and pictorial diagrams make a list of figures in thesis reports more meaningful.

3. It gives a comprehensive view of quantitative data. A moving line exerts a more powerful effect in the reader’s mind
than the tabulated data. It shows what is happening and what is likely to take place.

4. Its general usefulness lies in the simplicity it adds to the presentation of numerical data.

DISADVANTAGES:
1. Generally inaccurate
2. Incomplete
3. More expensive and time-consuming

TYPES OF GRAPHS
1. Bar Graphs
Single Vertical Bar
Single Horizontal Bar
Grouped or Multiple/Composite Bar
Duo-Directional or Bilateral Bar
Subdivided or Component Bar
Histogram

2. Linear Graphs
Time Series or Chronological Line Chart
Composite Line
Frequency Polygon
Ogives
Band Chart

3. Hundred Percent Graphs or Charts

Subdivided or Rectangular Bar
Circle or Pie Chart

4. Pictograms
5. Statistical Maps
6. Ratio Charts
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THIS LECTURE WAS COMPILED FROM THE FOLLOWING REFERENCES:

The Far Eastern University Architecture Thesis Manual
Guide for Writing the Master of Architecture Thesis, University of the Philippines
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B. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE PROPOSAL

IDENTIFICATION / ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS

It is not enough that you gather and present your data. They will have no value unless they can be related to the project.
What you have to do in this chapter is SIFT THROUGH the information that you have presented and come up with those
that can serve as a basis for further developments. With the theoretical foundation that you’ve laid out in the previous
chapters and the factual components that you’ve presented earlier, you can very well analyze WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO
BE DONE. Remember, the needs you identify here should always be ones that can be satisfied by ARCHITECTURAL
SOLUTIONS. Otherwise, discard them or process them so that although the root may be social, psychological,
physiological, etc., the expressed needs and requirements are architectural.

RESTATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Somehow here, you have to restate the problem or reread the STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM you formulated with only
preliminary information and high hopes. You have the facts now. This time, they should anchor your thoughts to the
ground. 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.

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 may be a statement 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.

PROJECT STUDY
1. BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS

ACTIVITY FLOW DIAGRAM

As your project will cater mainly to its users, it might be useful to your study to look into their patterns of
activities as these would help determine the characteristics of spaces which will be provided for them. The
pattern of activity will also create a basis for the interrelationships of spaces and consequently, structures.

For some projects, the activity flow diagram may be governed by a given schedule. This is true for schools, for
example, where the activities of the users as based on the scheduling of classes. For others, the pattern may
have to be determined through direct observation, interviews or any first-hand procedure. It is also
important to note the less obvious details in the pattern aside from those which are based on a given program
or are easily discernible through observation.
ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR STUDIES
Should your thesis have the behavior of the users as its main thrust, you should expand this part and have a
thorough and in-depth output. You may not only be dealing with the activities of the users for the time being
but 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 be a tool in
designing an effective working environment? Do you need to apply your knowledge in space engineering?

The concepts of territoriality, defensible space and space bubbles are very helpful tools in analyzing the
behavior of people in relation to the environment. In the end, this procedure will help you understand how the
environment shapes behavior and vice-versa.

INTERRELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS
This is the simplest part of space programming – but not quite. IF you think that doing matrices and bubble
diagrams would be too easy for you to do, well unfortunately, they’re not. Although such graphical instruments
help facilitate the organization of spaces, they may be too flexible, and so you’ll have the tendency to
overlook at the appropriate circulation. To avoid this, it is recommended that you have to go further and create
alternative schemes or bubbles (variations of your design) and even zoning (based on the result of matrices)
with circulation diagrams of various types if users.

The results of your case studies would probably be applied here. Again, you are encouraged to draw various
schemes to present probable solutions and it will not stop there. You have to orient your readers of the
variances and indicate the advantage and disadvantages of each scheme so that you would not have the
difficulty of explaining the design of your choice when later on tested against the concepts. Remember to
include the services and utilities.

There are different methods in preparing spaces. It can be a MATRIX which allocates specific variable depending
on the activity, e.g. pivotal and then coming up with the area. You may also basic standard from the National
Building Code or other building standards and multiply these with the number of users. Another way is to layout
a scheme containing the furniture, spaces, and circulation. This may be most helpful for rooms requiring
specific furniture as in hospitals, laboratories, factories and the like.

2. MARKET STUDY

3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY

4. INCOME GENERATION

5. TECHNICAL STUDY

5A. VIABILITY STUDIES

Viability studies are undertaken to ascertain the possibility of the project getting implemented. They are used to
determine probable impediments to project realization and to identify measures by which these impediments may be
minimized or eliminated.
5A.1. TECHNICAL VIABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The Technical Design Constraints – all designers must work within a set of parameters based on the following:

TECHNOLOGY
The project must be realizable based on the available systems, infrastructure and know-how. Production, replication,
testing must be possible within the existing framework of expertise and tools by which the processes can be carried out.
Propositions must be grounded on theories that are sufficiently backed up by past research undertakings.

It's also possible that the proposed project is illustrative of new technology. In this case, the research output must include
recommendations on the development of the proposed technology.

COST
Project cost – these are expenses that are directly attributable to the completion of the project. Examples are: design
development cost, construction / development / production cost.

Capital – this covers all initial, one-time expenditures. Examples are: construction of production plants, equipment
purchase, land acquisition.

Operating – regular / periodic expenses such as utility bills, salaries for personnel, rentals.
Maintenance – periodic or one-time expenses for repairs and facilities for upgrading.

TIME

Timeframe – a schedule showing how the project will progress over a projected duration must be shown. Schedules may
be in the form of a bar chart, an S-curve or a PERT-CPM diagram Phasing – project completion may be done in phases or
in distinct time frames.

Gestation – a lead-time or preparatory period may be needed before a project can fully take-off.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS

Materials – the types, sources and availability of needed building or product components need to be firmed up.

Manpower – the labor component, required expertise, organizational requirements also need to be identified.

Equipment – pieces of light and heavy equipment needed for the production and operating stages must be available.

SITE CONDITIONS
Location / Surrounding Areas / Land Area and Configuration Access / Climate / Landforms / Topography / Geology / Soil
Type / Water Bodies / Hydrology / Oceanography / Vegetation / Air Quality / Fish and Wildlife / Atmosphere / Visual
Resources / Danger / Hazard Prone Areas / Existing Structures Infrastructure / Utilities / Water Power Drainage

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

An EIA is undertaken to compare scenarios with and without the proposed project. The results are used to weigh favorable
against unfavorable impacts of the project on the environment. The word environment here refers to both the physical
and non-physical dimensions. The physical dimensions cover ecological and technological concerns while the non-physical
dimensions cover the social, cultural, economic and political concerns.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OUTLINE (Prescribed by the DENR)

1. Name and address of project proponent

2. Type of project
3. Overview summary
4. The project setting
5. The Proposal: A brief history of past environmental conditions and a description of the existing environmental and
resource use.
6. Future environmental conditions without the project (An average of five years projection)
7. Prediction and assessment of impacts
8. Contingency plans
9. Environmental briefings and monitoring
10. Mitigation measures
11. Residual unavoidable impacts
12. Information deficiencies
13. Appendices
14. Consultation and comments including public recommendations

6. LEGAL VIABILITY
Projects must be developed and implemented within the existing legal framework that is defined by the following:

A. Design Laws, Codes, Guidelines

Examples are the National Building Code, the Referral Codes, Batas Pambansa 220, BP 344, Condominium Act, ICOMOS,
PD 957.

B. Patent Laws / Intellectual Property Rights

There are procedures for claiming ownership over intellectual properties in the form of creative work, inventions, models
and paradigms.

C. Accreditation
There are procedures for recognition prior to entry into the target market. For example, AITECH or Accreditation of
Innovative Technology, is a task force that screens, evaluates and approves new technology for housing.

D. Other laws
Are laws that can directly or indirectly affect the project outcome. These are the Civil Code, National Defense, trading,
taxation, etc.

E. Entities or personalities that will be tapped to develop and implement the proposed project.

F. Institutional Arrangements
The type and level of networking required to effect project completion need to be identified.

G. Concerned Agencies
The particular public or private organizations and their roles in the network should also be clarified.

7. FINANCIAL STUDY

A. SOURCES OF FUNDS
Funds, for various projects types, come basically from either public or private sources. Investments of any form and origin
need to be recovered and in most cases, with an acceptable level of profit. Recovery of investments could be through any
of the following:

a. SALES. These are the proceeds from the outright disposal of completed products or its independent
components. Selling price is determined by market forces and by the prevailing ratio between supply and
demand. The final price that is passed on to the buyer/consumer should cover the cost of production and the
mark-up.
 b. USER CHARGES / RENTALS. This strategy attempts to extract the amount required to finance services from
those who benefit from their existence. Under perfect conditions, when the benefits are acknowledged by the
beneficiaries, as allocated then user chares must show a direct link between the quantity of services and the
revenues generated to finance their services.

c. SHARED TAXATION. A tax is a compulsory contribution to the government without reference to a particular
benefit received by the taxpayer. Subsidy from general taxation occurs when there is some degree of general
benefit, or where consumers cannot afford the full cost of a service that is regarded as essential to human
welfare.

d. FUNDING TERMS

e. BORROWING / LOANS. Large capital investments are usually financed by loans that are granted based on
specific lending terms. These terms specify repayment period, mode of payment, interest rates and provisions
for penalties. The total amount of loan is distributed over its life and therefore, to successive beneficiaries.

f. GRANTS. This form of assistance is usually given for pre-identified projects. Conditions for use are normally
stipulated. Full cost-recovery is not always expected out of projects that are financed through grants.

g. FINANCIAL BENCHMARKS

h. PROFITABILITY. The assessment of profitability begins with the computation of the net income, which basically
is equal to Total Revenues minus Total Cost.

8. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS