its all about finding solutions

Ur – a blog to explore the practice of architecture –

Ur is a forum for such discussions – ancient architecture, modernity,?
In a fast changing environment, the role of architecture is beingredefined. New materials, technologies, concerns of depleting naturalresources, clichés of ecological and sustainability and architecturaltheory at the cross roads.

Questions on the nature of architectural education, to respond to theneeds of our times are being raised. A wide range of arcarchitectural theory, education, concepts, materials and appropriatetechnologies, debates and discourses.
What is the paradigm shift/transformation in the nature of the architectural searchhitecturalexploration happens in the many practices.


Thesis FAQ

The thesis design semester is unique and different. Students from NITTrichy this year seem to be exploring new topics, which arechallenging, and different. Some students in Chennai are also debatingnew topics.

The basic questions that the students raised are significant:

1. How do we choose a thesis topic? What are the various topics wecould explore?
Guess there are no rules in choosing a topic/project. Thoughidentifying what interests can be essential criteria.
a. Exploring color in architecture, orb. Structure and technology in architecturec. Proportions and concepts of rhythmd. Heritage and conservation with creative adaptive re-usee. Hospital design (the program becomes important)f. Museum – what is the transformed design for a museum in the presentcentury? How is it different from the twentieth century museum?g. Art University – Dance, drama, visual arts, architectureh. Institute of fashion technologyi. Urban design – with a broad policy formulation and then designing abuilding/insert to demonstrate principlesj. Ecology and sustainabilityk. Campus designl. Townshipm. Airport terminusn. Cultural center
Add more projects- to liven and broaden the scope of the discussion

2. How do we decide the scale?
A project, which is too large, may notallow us to get down to design resolution and detailing! A smallproject may not have sufficient complexity to explore design.

Scale of project should be decided considering the essential fact thatthesis design is about exploring the aspects of design. Large-scaleprojects have the risk of becoming planning operations with verylittle architectural exploration. Issues of themes, elements,organization, campus planning, notions of arrival, sense of center,axis, ordering and connections need to be explored. Projects, whichare small in scale most often, do not provide the programmaticchallenges of design. Though these are general observations.

3. Why do we need literature studies – do we need to study otherbuildings are a reference? How do we analyze the building and learnfrom them? What are the parameters?
The study and observation of good buildings provides essential lessonsin evolving a program with a detailed area statement (along with arelationship between the areas etc.)

4. How do we structure our semester?
Thesis semester is also about exploring the unfolding of the design process.
Stages:

1. Choosing project and deciding the site, scale of project
2. Literature studies – references
3. Study of building regulations and services
4. Deriving lessons from travel and observation of good buildings
5. Evolving a framework to study buildings
6. Creating the project program and area statement
7. Exploring the generative concept through design
8. Study of spatial relationships, nodes, structure connectionsthrough drawing and models
9. Refinement of design
10. Detailing. Sections, sense of space, materials and technology
11. Ideas on growth of building over time
12. Final design presentation

check out for links on actual thesis programs as a model for he above.