Architecture

How to work on a Thesis Project? | Final Year Architectural Thesis

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Guidelines for assessment for a Final Thesis Project

In the earlier article, we discussed “What is the role of a Final Year Architecture student and his perspective towards carrying out his Thesis Project“.

  • The mental attitude of a student, how much of studentship does he maintain.
  • His understanding of Architecture and his capacity to portray his ideas in visual/graphic/oral form.
  • Level of curiosity translated in terms of his grasp of the ‘process of research’. Searching the past and the present in terms of ideas.
  •  The importance of History cannot be stressed more. The ability to read, write and draw the level of confidence required to initiate a study, the ability to discuss the necessary information from amongst a plethora of literature and knowledge, to define the limitations without getting lost in the world of information.
  • To direct his ideas and knowledge for the betterment of communities and society at large. We are not supposed to, nor should we try to, be designing for exotic locations. Our orientation should be our own nation and from there on define the locality and the community.
  • You would be designing for an American/British/Indian Climate with all the accompanying factors of Economic, Political, social, legal, environmental and cultural. So try to design and improve your own living conditions through indigenous materials, methods and designs suited to the your region of study.
  • To get away from the “Drafting Board” style of designing in two dimensional sterility. Architecture is not for a visual sense alone and that too on a drawing board minus the experience of space.
  • Architectural Design apart from its visual experience has to cater to other senses of touch. Sound and smell also. Most of our Architectural experience is tactile (sense of touch) and yet we hardly consider it in our designs.

Architectural Styles | Evolution of Architecture

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Journey from Ancient Architecture to Modern Architecture

Egyptian Architecture (3000BC – 100AD)

Ancient Egyptian Architecture is mainly based on religious monuments, massive structures with extensive carvings of gods, goddesses, pictorial representation of daily life, structures having thick sloping mud walls with very few openings for ventilation since the climate in Egypt is very hot and dry.

Temple of Horus | Ancient Egyptian Architecture
Temple of Horus | Ancient Egyptian Architecture

The “Temple of Horus” at Edfu is an example of the Ancient Egyptian Architecture. It is very well preserved even today and is considered as an “Architectural Sculpture”. The carvings done on the walls of the structure were considered as ornamentation in Egyptian period.

Pyramids of Giza | Ancient Egyptian Architecture
Pyramids of Giza | Ancient Egyptian Architecture

The Great Pyramid of Giza and Great Spinx of Giza are architectural monuments of ancient Egyptian Period. They are very popular for their uniqueness in massing and proportions.

The materials used in the Ancient Egyptian period were sun baked mud brick, stone, limestone. Granite and sandstone were also used at certain places. Wood wasn’t used as a material for construction since it was scarcely available.

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Introduction to Architecture | Era of New Architectural Styles

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Introduction to Architecture | Architecture Style of the 21st Century

What is Architecture??

“Arch”- a form of construction and “tecture”- the surface of the structure.

Architecture is defined as designing the structures with respect to their interiors, exteriors and also the surroundings of the structure. It is considered as a form of art and science.

People who have the creative ability of imagination and then transforming it into concepts go for Architecture. If along with creative genius, a person is coupled with the technical aspects of construction, any kind of design made by such an Architect could be very well and easily be executed since the Architect himself would understand the technicalities involved in the execution of a specific design.

Parthenon, Athens
Parthenon, Athens

Architects give a certain feel to the space depending on what structure it is. Their understanding of architectural factors such as mass, texture, use of colours, use of appropriate materials, play of light and shadow in the interiors to create illusion etc.

Two major goals are to be accomplished in Architecture:

  • Functional aspect
  • Aesthetic aspect

That is, along with structure being functional, the structure also has to be aesthetically appealing which would make the people want to appreciate the structure.

If we study the history of Architecture, we will see that a lot of architectural styles flourished in different parts of the world and were then modified with the changing lifestyles of the people.

Some architectural styles were plan specific, some were elevation specific, some flourished because of the available materials in that particular era etc.

It is very crucial for Architecture students, Architects and all the designers to understand and feel the essence of real Architecture.

Architecture is not just designing buildings, it is an art of integrating the design of buildings with its surroundings which would include its environment and the Urban fabric.

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A Poem dedicated to Architecture and World famous Architects!

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Poem dedicated Architecture!

Here’s presenting a poem on Architecture written by my 16 year old sister:

Architecture is not just planning and construction,

Its fulfilling client demands with utmost precision.

Here every architect has got his own style,

And all their contributions are very worthwhile.

Frank Lloyd Wright started his career at twenty,

His organic architecture has made the world trendy.

Le Corbusier was a very revolutionary man,

Using grid pattern he made Chandigarh city’s plan.

Buckminster Fuller was an American engineer,

Who popularized the style of geodesic sphere.

Frank Owen Gehry used the style of destructivism,

And in bilbao he build the Guggenheim museum.

These architects have glorified our world by their vision,

And our world has undergone a great revolution.

My younger sister runs a blog where she writes poems… Worth checking it out…

Poetry Enclave