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Architecture Thesis Projects: A Comprehensive List of 30 Topics to Pick From (Updated 2024)

Neha Sharma

13 min read

March 18, 2024

Table of Contents

Architecture Thesis: A culmination of all those years of intense training, sleepless nights, countless submissions and unforgettable memories. The grand finale!

It is a real test to showcase all the skills you’ve gained over the years in a single project. Naturally, choosing the right topic from an ocean of architecture thesis topics is one of the biggest challenges you can face as a final year student, as the topic itself may define the trajectory of your thesis!

To ease your conflicted mind, we have curated a comprehensive list of popular architecture thesis projects you might want to explore in your final year, along with links to relevant theses across the internet for your ready reference.

Go on, have a look! What sparks your interest?

Housing/ Residential Projects

1. Affordable Housing

“Housing for all” is a major goal developing countries are striving to achieve. Not everyone has the resources to own a house or even rent one out. Conscious and well-planned housing design can turn cities into places where owning a house is not merely a dream. And architects can play a pivotal role in achieving this noble goal.

2. Gated Communities

With the city centres choking with pollution, traffic congestion and over-population, many people are now moving to the suburbs in closed, secure and private gated communities. These colonies circumference almost every major city now, with more emerging as you read. A gated community design could be an interesting (though slightly controversial) architecture thesis topic to explore residential neighbourhood planning.

3. Modular/ Disaster Relief/ Emergency Shelters

Land and resources are limited but the demand for them only keeps increasing giving rise to environmental hazards like deforestation, pollution and depletion of natural assets. In a rapidly changing, calamity-prone world, the design of modular, mobile, disaster relief shelters is the need of the hour!

4. Slum Redevelopment

Urban informality may be a fascinating, complex issue to tackle for your architecture thesis projects. Many people have varied opinions on the dense, informal urban developments popularly known as ‘slums’ , but few are willing to tackle the difficult issue from top to bottom (or bottom up!). Are you one of the few?

Institutional Projects

5. Educational and Skill-Training Institutions

Schools play an important role in shaping a person and are key in bringing up generations of bright individuals. Educational and skill-training institutions have vast options, ranging from kindergartens to higher-education institutes; schools of dance to special-needs institutes ! Ready to shape minds?

6. Rehabilitation and Wellness Institutions

A sound mind and sound body are key to a happy life!

Unfortunately, sometimes individuals have to be institutionalised to get their health back on track. Rehabilitation centres and centres for people with depression or trauma aim at people’s mental wellness, while public gyms and civic sports centres aim at people’s physical wellness. If healing architecture and landscape is something you like, this could be the best architecture thesis topic for you!

7. Research Institutions

Progress in science, technology and humanities improves our way of living and ensures our well-being. The Sheldon Coopers among us wouldn’t be happy to see any fewer research centres and laboratories than there are!

Public Infrastructure Projects

8. Hospitals

Healthcare services are undoubtedly the most important services any region needs. The pandemic has made us understand how under-equipped even the best hospitals can be and so there is an even bigger reason for every hospital, be it multi-speciality/ speciality , maternity, special needs, public or private , to be as well designed as possible. This, more than ever, is the need of the hour and can make for a pressing architecture thesis project.

9. Transit Hubs

Airports , Bus Terminals , Railway Stations , Inland Waterways, Seaports.

Do you love to travel? Have you ever waited for a train and imagined how much better that railway station could be? Then what are you waiting for? Be the change!

10. Sports Stadia

Remember that first stadium experience of watching a cricket or football match? The energy of the crowd, the adrenaline rush! Most group sports stadia ( Cricket , Football , Hockey, Baseball, etc) and sports cities require meticulous study before designing, making a very suitable architecture thesis project for students.

11. Urban/Street Redevelopment

How often do we walk the streets of our cities and almost die because a bike passed within inches of us? Street redevelopment projects catering to pedestrianisation are proven to improve the lives of millions and are rapidly gaining urgency in the urban design domain.

These projects often require extensive site study. Not sure what all to cover in your site analysis? Read - Site Analysis Categories You Need to Cover For Your Architecture Thesis Project .

12. Waterfront Development

Rivers are considered sacred and life-giving across the world. The pitiful conditions of water bodies today have led urban designers to take up River/Canal-front Development Projects which aim at minimising water pollution, a smooth transition from land to water, and ultimately encouraging visitors for leisure and fun activities.

13. Public Parks and Plazas

Parks are the lungs of the concrete jungles many of us live in. After a day of intense work, all we need is some greenery and fresh air; or to grab a beer at that corner cafe in the city square! The design of public parks, plazas and playgrounds could be the best architecture thesis topic for an urban/landscape enthusiast.

14. Social Infrastructure

A robust, well-functioning society accommodates and facilitates the wellness of all its citizens and living beings. Infrastructure like orphanages , nursing homes , animal shelters , night shelters , daycare centres, banks, prisons , juvenile schools, community development centres , and many more tend to those social needs of the society which cannot be overlooked. Inclined towards public welfare? Look no further!

Socio-Cultural Projects

15. Community and Convention Centres

Humans are social animals. Now and then, we crave a meet-and-greet. Community and Convention Centres cater to this very need, and exploring the design angles for human interaction may be something worthy of your architecture thesis project. Be ready for competition though, this is one of the most popular architecture thesis topics students undertake!

16. Museums and Libraries

The culture-lovers among us would understand the value of a good museum or library and appreciate a well-designed one. Be it a museum of arts and crafts, culture, architecture , history or science, if the give and take of knowledge through some entertainment and delight (infotainment) is something you see yourself doing, then this could be the best architecture thesis topic for you.

17. Memorials

Memorials are the physical manifestations of the struggles endured, victories earned and life-changing events in history. They remind us to never forget the past, hoping for a better future at the same time, making memorial design both a fascinating yet weighted exercise.

18. Places of Worship/ Spiritual Centres

One cannot separate a human from their faith. Having a place to worship or connect with one’s spiritual self is as important to a human as going to school or a cinema hall. Places of worship like temples, churches, masjids, gurudwaras, monasteries , etcetera; and spiritual or meditation centres serve as places for gathering and become important landmarks in a settlement.

Conservation and Heritage Projects

19. Conservation of Heritage Structures

Conservation of the priceless built heritage like palaces, monuments, places of worship, ancient settlements, etc has always been on the agenda of organisations like UNESCO and the Archeological Survey of India. If historical significance gets your heart rate up, hi history nerd! Help in conserving our heritage structures !

20. Adaptive Reuse of Heritage Buildings

History nerd, if you’re still here, here’s another architecture thesis topic for you. Some heritage can be conserved to attract tourists and some that are too out-of-order could be modified and reused for a different purpose, generating economy. Converting royal palaces into heritage hotels, a king’s court into an emergency ward for covid patients or factories into community spaces, adaptive reuse of the built form requires fine skill, respect for heritage, and an active imagination!

Offices/ Corporate Projects

21. Government Buildings

Workspaces for all government officials are mandatory for smooth administration. The scale of government buildings is diverse, from the Central Vista Redevelopment Project (*ahem*) to a district-sessions court. Some common categories are high courts, government-owned banks, secretariat and corporation buildings , income-tax offices, assembly and gathering centres , media offices and so on.

Sounds boring? Don’t be so sure. What originally sounds typical is where there is maximum potential to surprise your critics!

22. Corporate Office Towers

We all have seen or at least talked about the famous corporate jungles of our towns. They not only serve as important landmarks but help in increasing the economic value of a region (Very SEZ-y!). If you wanna tame the jungle, you could explore corporate office-building design for your architecture thesis topic.

23. Co-working and Remote-working Spaces

A popular trend before COVID was sharing workspaces, which now have the potential to be thought of as remote-working spaces! Rethinking the design of co-working spaces is very relevant to the times and has great scope for innovation.

With the times we live in, this could be the best architecture thesis topic!

Entertainment and Commercial Projects

24. Theatres and Auditoria

Who doesn’t like good showtime with family and friends? Theatres, auditoria and performance centres are the core of spaces showcasing and witnessing talent, and fall under another typology which has the potential to be reworked post-pandemic. The design of such entertainment stations can test the knowledge of large-span structures without losing a strong grip on creativity and functionality.

25. Multiplexes and Malls

Malls and multiplexes are very popular among the masses as they possess multiple brands of shopping, entertainment and food centres. Whether or not you agree with the mall typology, more keep coming up in growing towns every year. So why not study how they work and improve the concept for your architecture thesis project? The consumerist urbania will thank you!

26. Marketplaces

Shopping for groceries and essential commodities is a frequent need, and most people head to a single marketplace for all their essential goods shopping. A place with a high frequency of movement requires meticulous and thorough design, but can also be one of the most fun challenges to take up! Think farmer markets, community-owned produce markets, mandis, harbour fish markets, and flea markets, the possibilities are endless!

27. Mixed-Use Hubs

Taking your design challenge up a notch is by taking up a mixed-use hub . This is a high-density area that caters to more than one function and has mega economic value. It could be a combination of residential, commercial, institutional, or hospitality, commercial and public space, or much more. This concept is taken to another level by bringing transit hubs into the fray with transit-oriented development!

28. Film, Photo and Animation Studios

The use of digital media has increased multifold in the past couple of decades. A lot of creatives express themselves through digital content, increasing the need for more film , photo, animation and integrated studios . Since these functions can be highly specialised, there is a lot of potential to do impressive research for your architecture thesis project!

Hospitality and Tourism Projects

29. Eco-Tourism Resorts and Visiting Centres

Imagine spending a weekend at a secluded place, close to nature, with all the facilities you need to relax and just de-stress! Ecological resorts and tourist visiting centres aim to cause as little damage to the environment as possible. Keen on environmental sustainability, eco-tourism resorts should be encouraged in the tourism and hospitality industry and make for very relevant architecture thesis topics.

Landscape architecture enthusiasts, where are you all at?

30. Backpacker Lodging/ Youth Hostels

While the question of travel arises, not everyone can afford finely kempt hotels or resorts to lodge at. The youth may opt for backpacking trips to save money as well as to have an interesting experience! Backpacking/ youth hostels like Zostel and Nomads World are buzzing for their affordability, convenience and prospects of networking with like-minded people. If this is your jam, consider creating innovative spaces for it!

Futuristic/ Sci-fi/ Conceptual Projects

How about a settlement on Mars? Or a concert hall in the air? A transit hub of 2050? A forest within the city? Perhaps a residential colony on the water!

Such futuristic or conceptual architecture thesis topics are all the more enthralling as they might not have any precedents. They stretch a creative brain to its limit, and in the process may transform into a brilliant idea. Challenging conventions, thinking out of the box and taking up a futuristic architecture thesis project could be your achievement (both in design and in convincing the faculty) as a young designer!

Having read about some common architecture thesis topics, it is important to know that you must not be limited to the above list. Your architecture thesis is your own brainchild, and it does not need to conform or even fit within a category.

A great architecture thesis is also a key ingredient in creating a kickass architecture portfolio ! So give your all. Who knows, you may even end up receiving an award for your architecture thesis !

Hoping you found the inspiration you were looking for!

Need more guidance with your architecture thesis project? Head straight to our A-Z Architecture Thesis Guide !

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• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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See an example

Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

• Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
• Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

• Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main  objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/

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Architecture: Getting Started - Research & Writing Basics

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Research & Writing with a focus on Architectural Research

Students of architecture are required to conduct research and present their findings in accordance with standard research paper guidelines.  The offerings of this page will help students meet those demands.  In addition, resources are offered to further one's professional pursuits in the field.

The Research Process in Steps

Research methods generally follow this path but the order of steps is flexible:

• Choose a topic - browse reference books, databases, circulating book indexes, journals, association websites, etc.
• Make a list of subject terms related to your topic for literature searching. Look at thesauri in databases.
• Write an outline of your paper
• Decide what type of information you will need - supporting, empirical, primary, etc.
• Consider the format of the information that you will use - print, electronic, video, etc.
• Conduct a literature search to determine if your topic is feasible to research
• Organize your information
• Evaluate the materials that you found - are they relevant, credible, reliable and verifiable?
• Write the text of your paper
• Cite your resources
• Check, check and recheck your writing and citations

Some online help for 'Architectural Research Methods'

• Fulltext pdf download of Groat & Wang article (2002) from ResearchGate
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• Arch Daily 18 Useful Resources for Research in Architecture

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An research proposal examples on architecture is a prosaic composition of a small volume and free composition, expressing individual impressions and thoughts on a specific occasion or issue and obviously not claiming a definitive or exhaustive interpretation of the subject.

Some signs of architecture research proposal:

• the presence of a specific topic or question. A work devoted to the analysis of a wide range of problems in biology, by definition, cannot be performed in the genre of architecture research proposal topic.
• The research proposal expresses individual impressions and thoughts on a specific occasion or issue, in this case, on architecture and does not knowingly pretend to a definitive or exhaustive interpretation of the subject.
• As a rule, an essay suggests a new, subjectively colored word about something, such a work may have a philosophical, historical, biographical, journalistic, literary, critical, popular scientific or purely fiction character.
• in the content of an research proposal samples on architecture , first of all, the author’s personality is assessed - his worldview, thoughts and feelings.

The goal of an research proposal in architecture is to develop such skills as independent creative thinking and writing out your own thoughts.

Writing an research proposal is extremely useful, because it allows the author to learn to clearly and correctly formulate thoughts, structure information, use basic concepts, highlight causal relationships, illustrate experience with relevant examples, and substantiate his conclusions.

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Thesis Research in Architecture: Research methods

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Unless noted, books listed here are located in the Musagetes Architecture Library.

Architectural and design research

• Architectural Ethnography Call Number: NA2543.S6 A73x 2018
• Architectural Research Methods Call Number: NA2000 .G76 2013
• Architectural Technology: Research and Practice (ebook)
• The Changing Shape of Architecture: Further Cases of Integrating Research and Design in Practice Call Number: NA1995 .C42 2019
• Design + Anthropology: Converging Pathways in Anthropology and Design Call Number: NK1520 .M55 2018
• Design Anthropology: Object Cultures in Transition Call Number: NK1520 .D458 2017
• Design Informed: Driving Innovation with Evidence-Based Design (ebook)
• Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need (ebook)
• Discursive Design: Critical, Speculative, and Alternative Things (ebook)
• Ethnography for Designers Call Number: NA2543.S6 C74
• Exploring: Research-Driven Building Design Call Number: NA2000 .E98x 2019
• Inquiry by Design: Environment/Behavior/ Neuroscience in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, and Planning Call Number: BF353 .Z44 2005
• Landscape Architecture Research: Inquiry, Strategy, Design Call Number: SB469.4 .D46 2011
• Making Homes: Ethnography and Design Call Number: GT170 .P56 2017
• Practice-Based Design Research (ebook)
• Reading Architecture and Culture: Researching Buildings, Spaces, and Documents Call Number: NA2560 .R38 2012
• Refractions: Artistic Research in Architecture Call Number: NA2000 .H68x 2016 (also available temporary as ebook through HaitiTrust)
• Research in Landscape Architecture: Methods and Methodology Call Number: SB469.4 .R47 2017
• Research Methodology in the Built Environment Call Number: NA2000 .R48 2016
• Research Methods and Techniques in Architecture Call Number: NA2000 .N5413 2018
• Research Methods for Architecture Call Number: NA2000 .L83x 2016
• Routledge Companion to Design Research Call Number: NK1520 .R68 2015 (also available temporary as ebook through HaitiTrust)
• Routledge Handbook of Planning Research Methods (ebook)
• Spatializing Culture: The Ethnography of Space and Place (ebook)
• Visual Research Methods in Design (also a temporary ebook) Call Number: NA2750 .S25 1991

"Fieldwork can mean the data collection stage of a project (particularly in the qualitative tradition); or how researchers go about collecting data; or more narrowly, data collection in a social setting that tries to reflect the naturally occurring order of events and subjective meanings of those being studied." 1

• Being There: The Fieldwork Encounter and the Making of Truth (ebook)
• The Charrette Handbook: The Essential Guide for Accelerated, Collaborative Community Planning Call Number: HT167 .N33x 2006 (Dana Porter Library)
• Constructing the Field: Ethnographic Fieldwork in the Contemporary World (ebook)
• The Design Charrette: Ways to Envision Sustainable Futures (ebook)
• Development Fieldwork: A Practical Guide (ebook)
• A Handbook for Social Science Field Research: Essays & Bibliographic Sources on Research Design and Methods (ebook)

Research Methods (general)

• Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory (ebook)
• The Craft of Research Call Number: Q180.55.M4 B66 2016 (Dana Porter and Milton Good libraries) (also available temporary as ebook through HaitiTrust)
• Doing Qualitative Research Call Number: H62 .S472 2013 (Davis Centre Library)
• Introducing Quantitative methods: A practical Guide Call Number: H62 .A4275x 2019 (Dana Porter Library)
• Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry (ebook)
• Practicing Ethnography: A Student Guide to Method and Methodology (ebook)
• Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches Call Number: H62 .C6963 2018 (Dana Porter and St. Jerome's libraries)
• The SAGE Handbook of Online Research Methods (ebook)
• The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Geography Call Number: GF21 .S233 2010 (Dana Porter Library)
• The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research Call Number: H62 .H2455 2011 (Dana Porter and Lusi Wong libraries)
• The SAGE Handbook of Quantitative Methodology for the Social Sciences (ebook)
• SAGE Quantitative Research Methods (ebook)
• Salsa Dancing into the Social Sciences: Research in an Age of Info-Glut Call Number: H62 .L7995 2008 (Dana Porter Library)

Case Studies

Where can you find case studies?

• Case studies are often published in  journal articles , so consult the  journals listed  in Architecture Research Guide , and search for articles using the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals .
• Some case studies are presented as  conference papers , which are sometimes published as part of conference proceedings, as well as in journals.
• Look for projects that have received formal recognition; awards announcements will usually provide details about a project that may be helpful to you. These announcements are sometimes published in journals, as well as on the web sites of the organizations making the awards.
• You can also try searching for  Case studies  as a subject combining other key words or subject headings, and/or filtering by library to only include books from Musagetes. Please keep in mind that this will exclude a lot of sources that are not formally considered to be case studies

Case Study Methodology

• Case Studies: Case-Based Research (ebook)
• The Case Study as Research Method: A Practical Handbook (ebook)
• Case Study Research: Design and Methods (temporary ebook)
• Case Study Research: Principles and Practices (ebook)
• Qualitative Research Through Case Studies (ebook)

Case Study Sources

• 20/20 Visions: Collaborative Planning and Placemaking Call Number: HT166 .C253x 2018
• Architecture Against the Post-Political: Essays in Reclaiming the Critical Project Call Number: NA2500 .A7129 2014
• Creative Placemaking: Research, Theory and Practice (ebook)
• Research Methodology in the Built Environment: A Selection of Case Studies Call Number: NA2000 .R48 2016
• Sustainability, Energy and Architecture: Case Studies in Realizing Green Buildings (ebook)
• Sustainable Housing Reconstruction: Designing Resilient Housing after Natural disasters Call Number: HV554.5 .C43 2015

Writing and presenting your research

• The Dissertation: A Guide for Architecture Students Call Number: NA2108 .B67 2006
• Presenting Your Research: Conferences, Symposiums, Poster Presentations and Beyond (ebook)
• Architect's Guide to Writing: For Design and Construction Professionals Call Number: NA2540 .S36x 2014

Social Justice and Critical Research Methods

• Data Feminism (ebook)
• Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples (ebook)
• Decolonizing Research: Indigenous Storywork as Methodology Call Number: GN378 .D43 2019 (Dana Porter Library)
• Doing Respectful Research: Power, Privilege and Passion Call Number: GN345 .T54 2016 (Dana Porter Library)
• Experience, Research, Social Change: Critical Methods (ebook)
• Fostering Social Justice Through Qualitative Inquiry: A Methodological Guide (ebook)
• Indigenous Research: Theories, Practices, and Relationships (ebook)
• Indigenous Statistics: A Quantitative Research Methodology (ebook)
• Other, Please Specify: Queer Methods in Sociology Call Number: HQ76.25 .O84 2018
• Queer Methods and Methodologies: Intersecting Queer Theories and Social Science Research Call Number: HQ76.25 .Q44 2016
• Research as Resistance: Revisiting Critical, Indigenous, and Anti-Oppressive Approaches (ebook)
• The Responsible Methodologist: Inquiry, Truth-Telling, and Social Justice Call Number: BD241 .K827 2015 (Dana Porter Library)

Interviews and Surveys

Doing interviews, focus groups, or surveys? See the University of Waterloo's  Office of Research Ethics  requirements for research with human participants .

• Collective Memory Work: A Methodology for Learning with, and from Lived Experience (ebook)
• Interviewing for Social Scientists: An Introductory Resource with Examples (ebook)
• Learning From Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies (temporary ebook) Call Number: HN29 .W42 1994 (Davis Centre Library) (also available temporary as ebook through HaitiTrust)
• Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data Call Number: H62 .R737 2005 (Dana Porter Library) (also available temporary as ebook through HaitiTrust)
• Reflective Interviewing: A Guide to Theory and Practice (ebook)
• The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft Call Number: H61.28 .H36 2012 (Dana Porter Library)

Focus Groups

• Doing Focus Groups (ebook)
• Focus Group Discussions Call Number: H61.28 .H45 2014 (Dana Porter Library)
• Focus Groups: Theory and Practice (ebook)
• Constructing Survey Data: An Interactional Approach Call Number: HA31.2 .G63x 2014 (Dana Porter Library)
• Design, Evaluation, and Analysis of Questionnaires for Survey Research (ebook)
• Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences (ebook)
• The SAGE Handbook of Survey Methodology (ebook)

1. Geoff Payne, and Judy Payne, Key Concepts in Social Research (London ; Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2004), 94.

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Home > HFA > Department of Architecture > Architecture Masters Theses Collection

Architecture Masters Theses Collection

Theses from 2023 2023.

Music As a Tool For Ecstatic Space Design , Pranav Amin, Architecture

Creating Dormitories with a Sense of Home , Johnathon A. Brousseau, Architecture

The Tectonic Evaluation And Design Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in Architecture , Robert Buttrick, Architecture

Designing for the Unhoused: Finding Innovative and Transformative Solutions to Housing , Hannah C. Campbell, Architecture

Investigating Design-Functional Dimension Of Affordable Housing With Prefabrication On Dense Suburbs Of Chelsea, MA , Siddharth Jagadishbhai Dabhia, Architecture

Architecture of Extraction: Imagining New Modes of Inhabitation and Reclamation in the Mining Lifecyle , Erica DeWitt, Architecture

Utopian Thought and Architectural Design , Anthony L. Faith, Architecture

Building Hygge In-Roads into Incremental Living , Tanisha Kalra, Architecture

NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE , Salabat Khan, Architecture

Sustainable Architecture in Athletics: Using Mass Timber in an Old-Fashioned Field , Zach C. Lefever, Architecture

Off-grid Living for the Normative Society: Shifting Perception and Perspectives by Design , Patsun Lillie, Architecture

The Evolution of Chinese Supermarkets in North America: An Alternative Approach to Chinese Supermarket Design , Ruoxin Lin, Architecture

Refreshing Refinery: An Analysis of Victorian Architecture and How to Translate its Elements for Contemporary Architecture , Richard J. Marcil, Architecture

After Iconoclasm: Reassessing Monumental Practices and Redesigning Public Memorials in Twenty-First-Century Massachusetts , Lincoln T. Nemetz-Carlson, Architecture

Earthen Materials In Organic Forms: An Ecological Solution to the Urban Biosphere? , Rutuja Patil, Architecture

Adaptive (Re)purpose of Industrial Heritage Buildings in Massachusetts A Modular Strategy for Building a Community , Riya D. Premani, Architecture

Community Design: A Health Center Serving the Greater Boston Population , Brandon E. Rosario, Architecture

The Food Hub as a Social Infrastructure Framework: Restitching Communities in Boston After the Pandemic , Connor J. Tiches, Architecture

Theses from 2022 2022

Equitable Housing Generation Through Cellular Automata , Molly R. Clark, Architecture

Beneficial Invasive: A Rhizomatic Approach to Utilizing Local Bamboo for COVID Responsive Educational Spaces , Megan Futscher, Architecture

Architectural Activism Through Hip-Hop , Micaela Goodrich, Architecture

Addressing Trauma Through Architecture: Cultivating Well-being For Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma , Megan Itzkowitz, Architecture

Buildings Integrated into Landscape & Making People Care for Them: Exploring Integrated Land-Building Ecosystems and the Lifestyles Needed to Support It , Sara Mallio, Architecture

Reimagining Black Architecture , Esosa Osayamen, Architecture

Prefabricated Homes: Delivery At Your Doorsteps , Obed K. Otabil, Architecture

Memory and Resistance , Cami Quinteros, Architecture

Mycelium: The Building Blocks of Nature and the Nature of Architecture , Carly Regalado, Architecture

IN-BETWEEN SPACES: ATMOSPHERES, MOVEMENT AND NEW NARRATIVES FOR THE CITY , Paul Alexander Stoicheff, Architecture

Theses from 2021 2021

Creating New Cultural Hubs in American Cities: The Syrian Diaspora of Worcester, Massachusetts , Aleesa Asfoura, Architecture

Firesafe: Designing for Fire-Resilient Communities in the American West , Brenden Baitch, Architecture

The Beige Conundrum , Alma Crawford-Mendoza, Architecture

Cultivating Food Justice: Exploring Public Interest Design Process through a Food Security & Sustainability Hub , Madison J. DeHaven, Architecture

Physical to Virtual: A Model for Future Virtual Classroom Environments , Stephen J. Fink, Architecture

Detroit: Revitalizing Urban Communities , David N. Fite, Architecture

The Homestead Helper Handbook , Courtney A. Jurzynski, Architecture

An Architecture of a New Story , Nathan Y. Lumen, Architecture

Border Town: Preserving a 'Living' Cultural Landscape in Harlingen, Texas , Shelby Parrish, Architecture

Housing for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Creating an Integrated Living Community in Salem, MA , Tara Pearce, Architecture

From Sanctuary to Home in the Post-Interstate City , Morgan B. Sawyer, Architecture

Exploring the Use of Grid-Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage in the Urban Landscape , Connor S. Slover, Architecture

Bridging the Gaps in Public Conversation by Fostering Spaces of Activism , Karitikeya Sonker, Architecture

Re-envisioning the American Dream , Elain Tang, Architecture

Tall Timber in Denver: An Exploration of New Forms in Large Scale Timber Architecture , Andrew P. Weuling, Architecture

Theses from 2020 2020

Urban Inter-Space: Convergence of Human Interaction and Form , Clayton Beaudoin, Architecture

The Hues of Hadley Massachusetts: Pioneering Places for Preservation and Growth , Elisha M. Bettencourt, Architecture

Reinvigorating Englewood, Chicago Through New Public Spaces and Mixed-Income Housing , Givan Carrero, Architecture

Architectural Agency Through Real Estate Development , Hitali Gondaliya, Architecture

Multimodal Transit and a New Civic Architecture , Samuel Bruce Hill, Architecture

Rethinking The Suburban Center , Andrew Jones, Architecture

Resilient Urbanism: Bridging Natural Elements & Sustainable Structures in a Post-Industrial Urban Environment , Nicholas McGee, Architecture

Adaptive Airport Architecture , Yash Mehta, Architecture

Rethinking School Design to Promote Safety and Positivity , Emily Moreau, Architecture

The Built Environment and Well-Being: Designing for Well-Being in Post-Industrial Communities During the Age of Urbanization , Tyler O'Neil, Architecture

Brutalism and the Public University: Integrating Conservation into Comprehensive Campus Planning , Shelby Schrank, Architecture

Spatial Design for Behavioral Education , Madeline Szczypinski, Architecture

Theses from 2019 2019

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY: FOR REFUGEES , Raghad Alrashidi, Architecture

From Archaic To contemporary : Energy Efficient Adaptive Reuse of Historic Building , Nisha Borgohain, Architecture

(RE)Developing Place: The Power of Narrative , Kinsey Diomedi, Architecture

Rethinking Ambulatory Care Delivery , Senada Dushaj, Architecture

Photosynthesizing the Workplace: A Study in Healthy and Holistic Production Spaces , Kaeli Howard, Architecture

Museum Design As A Tool For A City , Cunbei Jiang, Architecture

Architecture and Wilderness: An Exchange of Order , Ashley Lepre, Architecture

Cross-Species Architecture: Developing an Architecture for Rehabilitative Learning Through the Human-Canine Relationship , Jake Porter, Architecture

Intermodal Transit Terminal: Integrating the Future of Transit into the Urban Fabric , Guy Vigneau, Architecture

Theses from 2018 2018

Bangladeshi Cultural Center: for the Bangladeshi Population Living in New York City , Sabrina Afrin, Architecture

THE ENHANCEMENT OF LEARNING THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCCESS: RENOVATING THE FORT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AMHERST, MA , Reyhaneh Bassamtabar, Architecture

LEARNING SPACES: DISCOVERING THE SPACES FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING , Michael Choudhary, Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL SYNERGY: A FACILITY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING IN ACADEMIA AND PRACTICE , Ryan Rendano, Architecture

Resilient Architecture: Adaptive Community Living in Coastal Locations , Erica Shannon, Architecture

Theses from 2017 2017

New York City 2050: Climate Change and Future of New York | Design for Resilience , Abhinav Bhargava, Architecture

The Performance of Light: Exploring the Impact of Natural Lighting in the New UMass School of Performance , Dylan Brown, Architecture

Regional Expression In The Renovation Of Remote Historic Villages , Jie chen, Architecture

An Incremental Intervention In Jakarta: An Empowering Infrastructural Approach For Upgrading Informal Settlements , Christopher H. Counihan, Architecture

UMASS Dining Hall. A Path to Resiliency , Lukasz Czarniecki, Architecture

LIVING CORE OF THE FUTURE: PROPOSING NEW APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE OF RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX IN METROPOLITAN AREAS , Mahsa G. Zadeh, Architecture

HUMANITY IN A CHILDREN’S CANCER HOSPITAL , Sara Jandaghi Jafari, Architecture

Designing Symbiosis for the New Church Community , Evan Janes, Architecture

A Visible History: A Synthesis of Past, Present and Future Through the Evocation of Memory Within Historic Contexts , Nicholas Jeffway, Architecture

Creating A Community A New Ecological, Economical, and Social Path to Uniting a Community , Andrew Stadnicki, Architecture

Z-Cube: Mobile Living for Feminist Nomads , Zi Ye, Architecture

Theses from 2016 2016

Music and Architecture: An Interpresence , Rachel J. Beesen, Architecture

Intervening in the Lives of Internally Displaced People in Colombia , Amy L. Carbone, Architecture

Designing Waste Creating Space: A Critical Examination Into Waste Reduction Through Building Techniques, Architectural Design, and Systems , Courtney M. Carrier, Architecture

Umass September 11 Intervention , Mohamad Farzinmoghadam, Architecture

Merging Social Science and Neuroscience in Architecture: Creating a Framework to Functionally Re-integrate Ex-Convicts , Kylie A. Landrey, Architecture

From Shelters to Long Living Communities , Yakun Liang, Architecture

Building Hope: A Community + Water Initiative, La Villa de San Francisco, Honduras , Christopher D. Mansfield, Architecture

THE SPATIALITY IN STORYTELLING , Xiang Yu, Architecture

Innovation of the Residential Buildings and Community in the Emerging City Rongcheng , Xing Yu, Architecture

Art and Life - Make invisible visible in Cao changdi village, Beijing, China , peng zhang, Architecture

Theses from 2015 2015

The Dialogue of Craft and Architecture , Thomas J. Forker, Architecture

MOSQUE IN THE VALLEY: A SPACE FOR SPIRITUAL GATHERING & CULTURAL LEARNING , Nabila Iqbal, Architecture

EXPLORATION OF CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN URBAN PLAZA AND MIXED USE BUILDINGS , Youngduk Kim, Architecture

Design Of A Housing For Urban Artisan-Living Work , Fahim Mahmud, Architecture

Membranes and Matrices: Architecture as an Interface , Nayef Mudawar, Architecture

Building for the Future: Revitalization through Architecture , Rebecca N. Perry, Architecture

Developing Maker Economies in Post-Industrial Cities: Applying Commons Based Peer Production to Mycelium Biomaterials , Grant R. Rocco, Architecture

Design of Children's Event and Cutural Center in Osu, Accra, Ghana , Rudi Somuah, Architecture

Sustainable Design of Student Centers Retrofitting and Adaptive Reuse of UMass Student Union , Tianye Song, Architecture

Design/Build in Architectural Education: studying community-focused curriculum , Matthew K. Sutter, Architecture

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Research Proposal for Architecture and the Built Environment

• Garritzmann, U. (Participant)
• Aarhus School of Architecture
• Research Lab 2: Technology, Building Cultures and Habitation

Activity : Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

Description

Free Site Analysis Checklist

Every design project begins with site analysis … start it with confidence for free!

A Guide to Architectural Proposals

• Updated: February 15, 2024

At the heart of every successful project lies an architectural proposal. This pivotal document not only forms the backbone of the design process but also serves as the initial interface between architects and clients. An architectural proposal delineates the proposed design solution, anticipated costs, and the team’s qualifications, offering a comprehensive view of the architectural intent.

However, crafting a compelling proposal is an art in itself. While some manage to hit the mark, enthralling clients and securing contracts, others seem to falter at the first hurdle. The differentiation often lies in the clarity of communication, a realistic yet innovative approach to the problem at hand, and a well-structured proposal that aligns with the client’s vision and objectives.

In this article we delve into the nuances of architectural proposals, exploring their various types, the importance of an architect’s qualification statement, how to improve your proposal, essential questions to consider before submitting, and fee structures.

Types of architectural proposals

There are two main types of architectural proposals, each with its own unique format, intent, and use. The types include letter proposals and requests for proposals (RFPs).

Letter Proposals

Letter proposals are the most common type of architectural proposal. In essence, they are brief and typically designed for projects that require fewer resources and have a straightforward scope. These proposals typically contain a summary of the client’s needs, an explanation of the architect’s qualifications and ability to meet those needs, and a proposed fee structure.

The process for this type of proposal is quite linear. After the client reviews the proposal, they might suggest changes or accept it as is. If the proposal is accepted, a more formal contract outlining the specifics of the project, including timelines, costs, and deliverables, is then drawn up and signed by both parties.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

On the other hand, a Request for Proposal (RFP) is a more comprehensive type of architectural proposal. This type is typically utilized for larger projects where the client has specific needs and expectations, requiring an extensive response from the architect. The process of an RFP is divided into stages:

• Pre-qualification Process: Here, the architect’s experience, financial stability, and resources are evaluated.
• Letter of Interest or Architect’s Qualification Statement: This showcases the architect’s competence, skill set, and unique selling points.
• Technical Proposal: This is the most substantial part, which includes project understanding, methodology, deliverables, and the project team’s structure and composition.
• Shortlist Presentation: In this final stage, the shortlisted architects present their ideas and plans, allowing clients to make informed decisions based on these presentations.

Each type of proposal serves a different purpose and requires a different approach. Therefore, understanding which one to use and how to use it effectively can greatly impact the success of an architectural firm in securing new projects.

Architect’s Qualification Statement

Importance and role.

An Architect’s Qualification Statement serves as an essential tool in showcasing a firm’s capabilities , skills, and experiences to potential clients. It is the architect’s primary medium to present their expertise and show why they are the best choice for a specific project. The importance of this document lies in its power to communicate a firm’s credibility and reliability based on past accomplishments and current competencies.

This statement acts as the foundation for client trust and engagement, which can significantly influence the awarding of projects.

Contents of a standard Qualification Statement

The contents of a standard Architect’s Qualification Statement can vary based on the project’s needs, but certain vital components must always be included:

• Firm’s Overview: This section provides an introduction to the firm, including its history, philosophy, values, and mission. It sets the tone for the rest of the document.
• Experience and Credentials: Here, the firm should highlight their prior experiences relevant to the project at hand, showcasing completed projects and any awards or recognitions earned. This section should also list professional certifications and licenses.
• Team Members and Leadership: This section should provide an overview of the team that will be working on the project, including brief bios, roles, and qualifications. Emphasizing the skills and experience of the team can assure clients of the firm’s capability.
• Client References: Including testimonials and references from past clients can further establish the firm’s reputation and credibility. If possible, including references from projects similar to the one in question can provide a more direct testament to the firm’s ability.
• Approach to Work: This section should articulate the firm’s process, design philosophy, and commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. It gives potential clients insight into how the firm would handle the project.

How to use a Qualification Statement to promote your firm

A well-crafted Architect’s Qualification Statement can be a powerful promotional tool. To leverage it effectively:

• Tailor to the client: Customize your statement to align with the needs and values of each potential client. This shows that your firm understands their needs and can provide tailored solutions.
• Showcase your uniqueness: Highlight what sets your firm apart, whether it’s your design philosophy, commitment to sustainability, innovative use of technology, or any other unique selling point.
• Be concise and compelling: Avoid technical jargon and long-winded explanations. The statement should be easy to understand, engaging, and focused.
• Use visuals: Including images of past projects, infographics, or any other visuals can make your statement more engaging and memorable. This can also provide concrete evidence of your firm’s capabilities.

By crafting a compelling, customized, and concise Qualification Statement, you can improve your chances of winning projects and building long-term client relationships.

How to Improve Your Architectural Proposal

Architectural proposals serve as the face of your company to potential clients. Therefore, a well-crafted proposal can provide an advantage in securing new contracts. This section presents a set of strategies you can incorporate into your proposal development to make them more effective and competitive.

Focusing on Unique Skills

Every architectural firm has its unique skills or attributes that set it apart from others. Whether it’s a certain design philosophy, a successful track record in a specific type of project, a commitment to sustainable practices, or an exceptional ability to finish projects within budget and on time, these should be highlighted in your proposal. It’s vital to establish a unique selling proposition (USP) that differentiates your firm from competitors. This should be well articulated and visible in the early parts of your proposal.

Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can make your architectural proposal more engaging. Instead of merely listing your previous projects and accomplishments, consider presenting them as stories. You can talk about the challenges encountered, solutions devised, and the ultimate success achieved in each project. Use stories to illustrate how your firm has made a significant difference in previous projects, which can give the client confidence that you can deliver similar results for them.

Using Strong Graphics

Architecture is inherently visual, and your proposal should reflect this. Incorporate strong graphics, such as renderings, drawings, and photographs, into your proposal. This will not only make your proposal more aesthetically pleasing but also help communicate your ideas and concepts more effectively. Make sure the visuals align with the overall narrative of your proposal and that they effectively showcase your skills and past work.

To sum up, improving an architectural proposal is about presenting your firm’s unique skills, weaving a compelling narrative about your work, and utilizing strong graphics to communicate your ideas. By integrating these elements into your proposals, you will be better positioned to secure new contracts and succeed in a competitive marketplace.

Essential Questions to Consider

The preparation and submission of an architectural proposal is a task that requires substantial resources and a significant amount of time. Therefore, it’s crucial to evaluate a number of aspects before deciding to submit a proposal. This section highlights some of the most important questions to consider.

Evaluating the Worth of Submitting a Proposal

• Is the project within your firm’s capabilities and expertise? Make sure that the project aligns with the firm’s experience, resources, and competencies. It is necessary to assess whether the firm can successfully carry out the project without compromising its reputation or running the risk of failing to deliver.
• Is there enough time and resources to create a strong proposal? A hurriedly made proposal rarely succeeds. Before committing to a proposal, consider if your firm has enough time and resources to create a compelling and comprehensive proposal.
• What is the competition like? Understanding the competitive landscape can provide valuable insights. If many well-established firms are also likely to submit proposals, it might be challenging for your firm to stand out, especially if it’s a small or mid-size firm.

Understanding the Client’s Needs

• Does your firm understand the client’s needs and expectations? A client-centric proposal that addresses specific needs and objectives often stands a better chance of being selected.
• Can your firm meet these needs and expectations within the client’s budget and timeframe? Having a realistic understanding of what can be achieved given the constraints is crucial.

Anticipating Potential Problems

• What potential problems or challenges could arise during the project? Anticipating and outlining potential issues in your proposal, as well as proposing possible solutions, can demonstrate your firm’s foresight and problem-solving skills.
• How would these problems be managed? Detailing how your firm plans to address potential issues can give the client confidence in your ability to handle unexpected events and ensure smooth project execution.

By carefully considering these questions, firms can make more informed decisions about whether to submit a proposal and how to structure it most effectively.

Fee Structures

The 80/20 approach to fees.

The 80/20 approach to architectural fees is one method that architects can utilize to manage their pricing structure in a sustainable and profitable way. This method derives from the Pareto Principle, where 80% of your income often comes from 20% of your clients. The goal of the 80/20 fee approach is to optimize this balance, giving you the space to focus on the most profitable and rewarding projects.

Rules to Follow When Using This Approach

• Client Prioritization: Identify your most valuable clients – those who provide you with the most income. Prioritize your time and resources on these clients and projects.
• Project Selection: Choose projects that have a higher probability of profitability. Remember, not all projects offer the same value or income potential.
• Resource Allocation: Allocate your resources in a manner that maximizes your profitability. This may mean investing more time and effort in larger, more profitable projects while minimizing the resources spent on smaller or less profitable ones.
• Reevaluation: Regularly review and assess the profitability of your clients and projects. As the business environment changes, so too might your 80/20 ratio.

Hybrid Proposal Fees

Hybrid proposal fees are another method of structuring your architectural fees that combines fixed fees with variable elements.

• What They Are: Hybrid fees can take several forms. One common type is a combination of a fixed fee for initial concept and schematic design stages , combined with a percentage fee for the design development, documentation, and construction stages.
• When to Use Them: Hybrid fees are most useful in projects where the scope isn’t entirely clear at the outset, or where you anticipate significant changes and revisions. The fixed fee allows for certainty and stability in the initial stages, while the percentage fee allows for flexibility later on.
• Benefits: Hybrid fees offer a balance of predictability and flexibility. They can provide architects with some security in the early stages of a project while still allowing for compensation that reflects the true value of their work as the project evolves.

In conclusion, understanding and effectively utilizing different fee structures is a critical aspect of creating profitable and sustainable architectural proposals. By knowing when to use the 80/20 approach or hybrid proposal fees, architects can better tailor their proposals to meet their own needs and those of their clients.

FAQs about architectural proposals

What is an architectural proposal.

An architectural proposal is a comprehensive document that outlines an architect’s designs, ideas, and plans for a client’s project. It’s prepared by architects to bid on potential projects, showcase their skills, and demonstrate how they intend to meet a client’s requirements.

Key elements of an architectural proposal often include:

• Executive Summary: This is a brief overview of the proposal, explaining the architect’s understanding of the client’s needs and a summary of the proposed solution.
• Project Description: Here, the architect gives a detailed description of the project, the client’s requirements, and the scope of the work to be done.
• Design Approach: In this section, the architect explains their conceptual approach to the project. It often includes initial ideas and strategies to meet the project’s objectives.
• Team and Qualifications: This part details the qualifications and experience of the architect or architecture firm, highlighting their ability to successfully execute the project. It often includes bios of key team members, their roles in the project, and descriptions of past projects that demonstrate relevant experience.
• Timeline and Work Plan: This outlines the project schedule, including key milestones, from the design phase to construction and completion.
• Budget and Fee Structure: This section provides a detailed breakdown of the project’s estimated costs, including the architect’s fees, construction costs, and other related expenses.
• Portfolio: An architectural proposal often includes a portfolio of the architect’s previous work, showing their design style and proficiency.
• Terms and Conditions: This includes legal and contractual information, such as the terms of payment, insurance requirements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and more.

An architectural proposal serves as both a technical document detailing how a project will be executed and a marketing tool to convince the client of the architect’s capabilities. It’s a critical part of the project acquisition process in the field of architecture.

Do architects write proposals?

Yes, architects do write proposals. Proposals are a critical aspect of architectural practice, especially when architects want to bid on projects, communicate their design ideas, and show clients how they plan to manage and execute a project. These proposals are essentially detailed plans on how an architect or architecture firm intends to solve a client’s problem and meet their needs.

Architectural proposals often include details like the scope of the project, the architect’s approach to the design, project timelines, costs, and deliverables. It will also include information about the architect or the architectural firm, including their qualifications, past projects, and why they are the best fit for the project.

While the architect often takes the lead in preparing these proposals, they may collaborate with other professionals in their firm, such as project managers, financial analysts, and design team members, to ensure that the proposal is comprehensive and compelling. They might also enlist the services of professional writers or editors, particularly for large and complex proposals. In larger architectural firms, there may be a dedicated team responsible for proposal writing and submission.

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Architectural Design MPhil/PhD

The first programme of its kind in the UK, Architectural Design MPhil/PhD invites candidates to combine designing and writing to develop their architectural research.

This doctoral programme encourages the development of architectural research through the creative combination of designing and writing. The Architectural Design thesis consists of projects and texts that share a research theme and have a productive relationship. The projects may be drawn, written, filmed, constructed, or make use of whatever media is appropriate to the research subject. Integrating varied research methods, the thesis emphasises the creative interdependence of drawing, writing, and building in the development of innovative practices and theories of architecture.

The first architectural design programme in the UK, this programme was established in 1995, with the first candidate graduated in 2000. Since then, there have been over 80 further graduates. Candidates can study full-time or part-time, depending upon individual circumstances.

View the UCL Prospectus page for this programme

Developed through individual research investigations and supported by regular tutorials with a principal and a secondary supervisor, an Architectural Design thesis integrates design projects and a text of around 60,000 words. Stimulated by the 500-year history of the architectural book and the many forms it has taken globally, over 30 graduates have had their thesis published as an authored book.

In their first year, candidates are registered as MPhil students, but are then expected at the end of that year (or second year if part-time) to upgrade to PhD status. A full-time candidate is expected to complete the PhD in three to four years, whilst a part-time candidate completes theirs in five to seven years.

Within The Bartlett School of Architecture, the Architectural Design MPhil/PhD programme has a longstanding, fruitful association with the Architectural and Urban History and Theory MPhil/PhD programme. Every year the programme collectively organise a series of regular seminars and events:

Research Introductions

Initial presentations by new MPhil students.

Research Conversations

In-depth seminars to meet the criteria for upgrade from MPhil to PhD status.

Research Projects

An annual PhD conference and exhibition with international critics as respondents, so that students can present and discuss work-in-progress.  Read the PhD Research Projects publications on Issuu

Candidates also have the option of auditing taught modules from the Architectural History MA , led by Professor Peg Rawes, or the Landscape Architecture MA/MLA , led by Professor Laura Allen and Professor Mark Smout.

Supervisors

The programme draws upon the wide range of research expertise offered at The Bartlett School of Architecture. Supervisors are selected depending on the student’s specific research area. The principal doctoral supervisor is within The Bartlett School of Architecture, while the subsidiary supervisor can be from The Bartlett or another UCL department, including anthropology, medicine, or fine art, for example. The intention is for doctoral subjects and supervisions to be as broad as the discipline of architecture and to connect research to related disciplines to foster productive and rewarding collaborations. The school also has a fruitful association with the doctoral programme at the Royal Academy of Music. 

To discuss a potential Architectural Design MPhil/PhD, it is recommended that you read the profile of the principal supervisor with whom you would like to work and email them a research proposal. Alternatively, you may contact the Programme Director.

Current supervisors

Professor Peter Bishop Application of urban design and urban planning theory; incremental urbanism; temporary uses and installations; role of conservation in distorting urban change; role of other stakeholders and political forces outside the design process in the construction of the built environment.            Professor Iain Borden History of modern architecture; urbanism and urban culture; skateboarding, graffiti and urban arts; public space; experiences of architecture; film, photography and other urban representations; critical theory and cultural studies.

Roberto Bottazzi The aesthetic, spatial and philosophical impact of digital technologies on architecture and urbanism.

Professor Eva Branscome Architecture as evidence of contested histories; Historic urban environments and their tangible and intangible heritage; Modern architecture in Europe; Migration of ideas and people and how this is readable within the urban fabric; Cities as complex cultural constructions; Gender as it affects the subdivision and use of built spaces; Domesticity; Museums, exhibition design and curatorial practice; Avant-garde art and renegade urban art forms such as street art; Performance spaces; Photography as a medium between architecture and culture.

Professor Barbara Campbell-Lange Projects that imaginatively unfold notions of event, object and unbuilt environment; that think otherly about discipline and category, politics, technologies and philosophies; that evolve verbal with non-verbal methodologies; that explore ancient and contemporary (minimalist) composition in the arts and humanities.   Professor Ben Campkin Histories, theories and practices of urbanism and urbanisation. Transdisciplinary urbanism and experimental methods of urban research, publication and public engagement. Urban night spaces, cultures and governance. London’s history and built environment; contemporary urban policy and practice in London. Queer space, architecture and architectural histories; heritage associated with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer populations.

Professor Mario Carpo  History of architectural theory and history of cultural technologies, with focus on the early modern period (the Vitruvian tradition and the Italian Renaissance, from Alberti to Vignola) and on contemporary digital design theory (1990 to the present).

Dr Megha Chand Inglis  History and theory of architectural practices in and from the Indian subcontinent, and more broadly the Global South; the play of relations between 'the west' and the 'non-west;' the colonial encounter; Indian temple building communities; the 'non-modern' in global architectural modernity; epistemological vantages in design and production; the politics of technology; subaltern building communities; knowledge production; relations between texts and contemporary architecture; diasporic cultures of building and place making; migrant labour in the global diaspora; postcolonial theory and approaches.    Professor Nat Chard Architecture and indeterminacy; relationship between ideas and technique in architectural representation and manufacture; experimental practices in architecture; developing methods of drawing and making as a means of architectural research.             Professor Marjan Colletti   Digital design and digital theory; experimental building and urban design; innovative CAD/CAM fabrication technologies; neo-baroque and exuberant synthetic and syncretic design techniques.             Professor Marcos Cruz Innovative environments, utilization of bacteria and algae, computation, bio-technology and synthetic biology.

Dr Edward Denison Histories and theories of modernism and modernity outside ’The West'. Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, especially China and Chinese encounters with modernity domestically and/or globally. Colonialism, post-colonialism, and globalisation. Cultural heritage and critical approaches to urban heritage. Community engagement/campaigning and neighbourhood planning.    Professor Murray Fraser Architectural design; design research; architectural history and theory; cultural studies; architecture and globalisation; cross-cultural influences; cultural identity; urbanism.   Professor Stephen Gage Time-based architecture; architecture that interacts with people and the external environment; architecture and performance.

Dr Sam Griffiths Theories and methods for researching and writing the historical relationship between urban populations and their built environments; the spatial cultures of industrial cities, suburbs and high streets; urban manufacturing; architecture as chronotope in realist fiction and historical writing; space syntax as an interdisciplinary approach to research in the humanities and social sciences. 

Dr Kostas Grigoriadis Multi-material / functionally graded material design and fabrication; advanced computational design and computational fluid dynamics simulations in architecture; generative design (topology optimisation); embodied energy of multi-material building parts; digital theory; epistemology of computer simulations in architectural design (EOCS); cognitive theory (Material Engagement Theory and conceptual blending).

Peter Guillery London's buildings and topography of the 16th to 21st centuries, especially housing, industrial buildings and vernacular architecture.

Dr Sean Hanna   Spatial cognition; mathematical and computational modelling of spatial and social relationships; individual and collective creativity; machine learning and intelligence; complexity and big data.   Dr Penelope Haralambidou Practice-led research; spatial culture; cinematic architecture; architectural essay film; digital animation and craft; immersive technologies; fine art; music; allegory, narrative and storytelling; histories and theories of perception, memory, imagination and spatial representation; optics, linear perspective, stereoscopy and the politics of visuality; architecture and play; feminist utopias; female spatial imagination; medieval illuminated manuscripts; Christine de Pizan; Marcel Duchamp.

Dr Jan Kattein

Dr Chris Leung   Prototyping through digital modelling, simulation, fabrication and instrumented testing as a modus operandi for design research; timber construction and sustainable approaches to the design of timber buildings; passive low-energy actuator technologies (phase-transitioning waxes, thermo-bimetals, shape memory alloys) for environmental control in buildings; digital and hybrid digital-analogue control systems for facade systems; solar energy; passive cooling with optically selective radiators; embodied mechanical logic; advanced manufacturing processes e.g. design for multi-material polymer printing.   Professor Yeoryia Manolopoulou Architectural design and theory; design research methods; architecture and experience; collaborative, aleatoric and performative design; dialogic architecture; place, material practices and building; pedagogic settings; theories of embodied mind, action and environment; the architectural score; practices of drawing; architecture’s intersection with art, anthropology and neuroscience.

Dr Clare Melhuish Anthropology of architecture, the built environment and urban processes; ethnography of architectural practice; urban and architectural visual and material culture; postcolonial urbanism; critical urban heritage; modern(ist) architecture and planning in London; French modern(ist) architecture and planning; Arab cities; Caribbean urbanism; universities and urban regeneration; education spaces and the city;  participatory and community-led planning; anthropology of home and domestic space; ethnographic methodologies.

Dr Shaun Murray Architectural research through design. Agency of architectural drawing in process and result, ecological thinking, and field theory relations. Histories, theories, and futures of communicating architecture through the inter-relations of designing ecologies. Ecology, landscape, geology, and material dynamics in relation to site through mappings and choreographies. Surrealism and Correalism in architecture. Adapting buildings to occupants through reflexive design in architecture and technology. Hybrid methods of communicating architecture, transdisciplinary approaches, non-linear and non-reductionist modes.

Dr Luke Pearson Architecture and videogames; the design of virtual worlds; worldbuilding practices; digital pop culture; game design and game aesthetics; game engine technologies; digital animation; speculative and utopian architectural design; immersive technologies; new media art; imaginative drawing; comics, science fiction and anime.

Professor Alan Penn Urban research at the scale between the building and the city; design of complex buildings and their relations to organisations (i.e. hospitals, laboratories and offices); development of computing for architecture; urban pollution dispersal; virtual reality applications for the built environment; simulation of social phenomena and urban growth and change.        Professor Barbara Penner Tourism; American hotels, resorts, and commercial architecture; gender and space; domesticity; consumerism; bathrooms and infrastructure; inclusive urbanism; appropriate technology.             Professor Sophia Psarra Architecture narrative and fiction, geometry of architecture and urban space; conceptual order, spatial morphology and spatial experience; the formation of spatial meaning in architecture and symbolic languages across different media; architectural theory; the morphology of cities in relation to processes of industrialisation, de-industrialisation and innovation; spatial design of complex buildings and its relation to society and organisations; computer modelling and visualisation.        Professor Peg Rawes Climatic, planetary and ecological practices; environmental aesthetics, poetics theory and practices; feminist, intersectional and decolonial theory and practices; histories and theories of vulnerability, wellbeing and care; political and ecological critiques of computation.

Professor Jane Rendell Gender/feminist theory and architecture; art, architecture and urban interventions; critical spatial theory and practice; creative/critical subjectivity and positionality in writing or site-writing; psychoanalysis and space; public space, cultural identity and narrative.     

Harriet Richardson Architectural history and heritage; medical buildings; development of hospital planning and design; post-war hospital architecture in Scotland; National Health Service; urban history; Scottish Architecture

Dr David Roberts Mobilising histories and futures of social housing in London; developing action research with community groups under threat from urban policy; empowering ethical built environment pedagogy and practice; devising socially engaged site-specific performance; nurturing forms of collaboration and collectivity; extending architectural history and design education to young people.

Dr Tania Sengupta Postcolonial and transcultural studies; colonial, post-colonial/contemporary architecture and urban history (non-western worlds, especially South Asia); postcolonial identities in western contexts. For non-western contexts: architectures of governance; provincial identity and rural-urban relationships; spatial cultures of domesticity; material and spatial cultures; global, local and scalar relationships in architecture/ urbanism; everyday spaces and practices.  

Professor Bob Sheil Architecture and design through production, experimental design, prototyping, making, fabrication, craft, innovative technology, digital practice, digital manufacturing, assembly, materials, modelling, transgression from drawing to making, 3D scanning.

Professor Mark Smout Design-based approach to architecture, landscape (urban and rural) and climate change via political, technological and artistic disciplines.

Dr Nina Vollenbröker Programme Director Aural diversity and deafness. Disability and bodily difference. Institutional spaces including hospitals and specialist schools. Early modernist Austrian and German architecture. Spaces of home, especially in the context of migration and long-term mobility. Intersections of material culture, photography, and space. Quilts and textiles. Manuscript diaries and oral histories.

Professor Tim Waterman Landscape studies, landscape architecture, landscape history; imaginaries—moral, social, ecological, radical, and utopian; democracy, citizenship, justice, and the right to landscape; taste, manners, customs, and commons; food and foodways; utopian studies; urban and rural studies; sustainability and regenerative design.

Dr Robin Wilson  The architectural media (especially the architectural journals of the 20th century); architectural photography; architectural criticism; arts-based and performative methods of spatial research; curatorship and architecture; utopian theory.

Oliver Wilton Architectural design, environmental design, and sustainability. Architecture, construction, industrial and environmental histories. Physical prototyping, digital simulation, and architecture performance. Developing simple new forms of construction. Architecture lifecycle, industrial symbiosis, inhabitation and related resource systems, circular metabolism. Biogenic materials, seasonality, and microclimate augmentation. 

Dr Fiona Zisch Cognitive architecture / neuroarchitecture; spatial cognition; cognitive ecologies; neurophilosophy; radical embodiment; embodied knowledge and intuition; cyberfeminism; technology, interaction, performance; movement, choreography.

Stamatis Zografos Critical heritage studies; urban memory and archives; cultural studies; intersections of architecture/conservation and psychoanalysis; fire, urbanism and precarity; urban violence; destruction and evolution/regeneration.

Research Proposal

The research proposal is crucial to our decision on your application since it demonstrates your ability to identify and articulate an independent line of research inquiry. In not more than 2000 words, you should explain the subject of your proposed research, the questions you hope to answer, why you think this knowledge will be of value, your intended method, and the sources you will use.       As an original contribution to knowledge, a PhD thesis must identify and discuss an identifiable field of research, critique its principal works and texts, and indicate how the thesis is an original departure from and/or development of this research field. Additionally, research by Architectural Design thesis has two inter-related elements of equal importance—a project and a text—that share a theme and a productive relationship, which must all be discussed in your research proposal. You should show that you have the ability and experience to carry out the research, and are familiar with the context, literature, and appropriate methods of research. Please offer a working title for your research and a select bibliography of key works.      It may be helpful to structure your proposal under the following headings:  

• Working Title  
• Research Project - broken down under the following headings: Subject/Aims/Key Research Questions/Academic Context/Methods (1500 words)  
• Feasibility/Ability to complete - preparation to conduct research and previous experience (500 words)  
• Select bibliography of key works (primary and secondary)  

   In addition, we request a C.V., a portfolio of design or other practice–led work or a link to your website (if applicable). 

Application Guidance

The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, currently has no deadline for submission of applications for admission to the PhD programmes. Postgraduate research students can commence their study at certain dates during the academic year, so are not restricted to a September start date unlike postgraduate taught students. However, please note we will not be processing any applications in August and September for entry within the same academic year. During university breaks of Summer, Christmas, Easter, and in reading weeks in November (06–10 November 2023) and February (12–16 February 2024), slower responses can be expected. Please be reminded that the formal admissions process can be a lengthy one, between 2-3 months.   If you are considering applying for a scholarship, we ask you to familiarise yourself with all relevant guidance and allow sufficient time (6-8 months at least) ahead of deadlines. In many cases, our scholarship schemes require applicants to have submitted their UCL admission application prior to applying. Please submit admission applications at least two months in advance of scholarship deadlines.  We will, for example, not process admission applications in November or December for applications that depend on scholarship deadlines in January; these admission applications must be submitted by the end of October.   Additionally, some scholarships may require a reference from your potential UCL supervisor. It is important to note that to request a reference, you must have had prior ongoing and positive conversations with a supervisor for them to be able to recommend you in good faith. Requests for references from potential supervisors should be made at the same time as formal applications for admission to the PhD programme and last-minute requests will not be considered. Please note that while scholarship applications require a reference letter from your potential supervisor, PhD applications require two independent references.  

The Architectural Design doctorate is a means to learn from the past, reassess the present, and speculate on future models of architectural practice and discourse. 

Doctoral graduates have gone on to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields, from architectural, design and art practice to curatorial positions. Students have also progressed into academic roles at both The Bartlett and other higher education establishments, including:

• Architectural Association School of Architecture
• African Futures Institute
• University of Cyprus
• Dalhousie University
• University of Innsbruck
• Rice University
• Royal College of Art
• Royal Danish Academy of Architecture, Design, Conservation
• University of Oxford
• University of Sheffield

Programme Director and Departmental Tutor:  Dr Nina Vollenbröker Programme Coordinators:  Stelios Giamarelos  and  Stamatis Zografos Programme Administrator:  Emmy Thittanond

• Daniel James Wilkinson, The Sculptor-Architect: drawings, models and bozzetti after Michelangelo, PhD, 2021.
• Natalia Romik, (Post)-Jewish Architecture of Memory within former Eastern European Shtetls, PhD, 2018: public programme in the evening in Józefów Biłgorajski. 
• Nerea Amorós Elorduy, East African Refugee Camps as Learning Assemblages: The built environment as an educational resource for encamped young children in the East African Rift, PhD, 2018: mural-making process on the first and second walls of Kiziba refugee camp maternelle. 
• Richard Beckett, Architecture as a Landscape for Beneficial Microbial Interactions: Probiotic Ceramic Wall Components_1.
• Thomas Pearce, An Architecture of Parallax. Design Research Between Speculative Historiography and Experimental Fabrication.
• Natalia Romik, (Post)-Jewish Architecture of Memory within former Eastern European Shtetls, PhD, 2018: the walk with JAD, image from the collection of the Contemporary Art Centre Kronika in Bytom.  
• Natalia Romik, (Post)-Jewish Architecture of Memory within former Eastern European Shtetls, PhD, 2018: the Nomadic Shtetl Archive in the market square in Kock.
• Richard Beckett, Architecture as a Landscape for Beneficial Microbial Interactions: Indoor Microbiome Sampling.
• Richard Beckett, Architecture as a Landscape for Beneficial Microbial Interactions: Probiotic Ceramic Wall Components_2.

Apply now  

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Read the PhD Research Projects Book 2022 on Issuu

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Explore our current students' research profiles

About the bartlett school of architecture.

Successful thesis proposals in architecture and urban planning

2020, Successful thesis proposals in architecture and urban planning

Purpose-The purpose of this research is to improve the understanding of what constitutes a successful thesis proposal (TP) and as such enhance the quality of the TP writing in architecture, planning, and related disciplines. Design/methodology/approach-Based on extended personal experience and a review of relevant literature, the authors proposed a conception of a successful TP comprising 13 standard components. The conception provides a specific definition/s, attributes, and success rules for each component. The conception was applied for 15 years on several batches of Saudi graduate students. The implications of the conception were assessed by a students' opinion survey. An expert inquiry of experienced academics from architectural schools in nine countries was applied to validate and improve the conception. Findings-Assessment of the proposed conception demonstrated several positive implications on students' knowledge, performance, and outputs which illustrates its applicability in real life. Experts' validation of the conception and constructive remarks have enabled further improvements on the definitions, attributes, and success rules of the TP components. Research limitations/implications-The proposed TP conception with its 13 components is limited to standard problem-solving research and will differ in the case of other types such as hypothesis-based research. Practical implications-The proposed conception is a useful directive and evaluative tool for writing and assessing thesis proposals for graduate students, academic advisors, and examiners. Social implications-The research contributes to improving the quality of the thesis production process among the academic community in the built environment fields. Originality/value-The paper is meant to alleviate the confusion and hardship caused by the absence of a consensus on what constitutes a successful TP in the fields of architecture, urban planning, and related disciplines.

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The aim of this paper is to evaluate the application of a theoretical framework in the architecture thesis project to discover the effectiveness of the exercise on the thesis projects. It was common to observe that the students prepared the architectural thesis project with limited, unstructured, or disconnected studies to analysis, programming, and conceptualization phases. A theoretical framework model was tested to evaluate the effects on the learning outcomes of the students. The methodology of the research was designed based on structured observation and content analysis. The findings of the research reveal that the students perceive and understand the studies and the theoretical framework differently. The students demonstrated their theoretical framework with four categorical specifications including information, application, presentation, and communication. The information referred to data and structure of the organization, the application implied the relation between the dat...

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This paper is an introduction to the scope and intents of the dissertation. It contains the Abstract for the dissertation and a description of its parts, results and the research orientation that the work generates. The full document may be made available on request. Questions may be forwarded to the author.

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This paper analyses the predominant trend between the students to follow, frame, and develop a concept in the architectural thesis design. The research targets to question how the students derive their inspiration from diverse sources and influencers into the architectural design concept. The research methodology was based on semi-structured questionnaires with Likert scale questions to analyse and interpret data through the Chi-Square test in SPSS software. The findings revealed that first, the students preferred to employ more symbolic and poetic elements for the design than real projects, second, to create their concepts under influences of supervisors and juries than research, third, to follow personal procedure than the structured process of the course. In conclusion, the results revealed that the students adopted a personal procedure under the influences of the supervisors to design a concept that is closely aligned with a subjective approach, rather than a structured research process.

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The achievement of a balanced and consistent PhD Thesis proposal is a challenge for each PhD student. This paper intends to unfold and reflect on the tactics used by the authors in the course named "Seminário de Projeto de Tese" (Thesis Project Seminar) lectured at the Doctoral Program in Design at the Lisbon School of Architecture, Univ. of Lisbon. The main goal of this reflection is to present and question the key elements of this "kick-off" moment, but mostly, to convey the way they are worked along with the students and later concatenated in a robust proposal that maps the research project. In methodological terms, we will be using literature review to frame the work and we will assess the didactics used in class. As a result of this work, we show a step-bystep didactic process explained and open to be used. These guidelines have proven to be very assertive.

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115 awesome architecture research topics: useful list of ideas.

If you are reading this, it means you need to write an excellent architectural research paper and need some help choosing the topic. The good news is that our expert writers have just updated our list of 115 unique architecture research topics.

This means you can find some original ideas right here on this page. Of course, you can use any of our ideas for free – as long as you get an A+ on your next research paper.

Writing an Architecture Essay Quickly

If you are like most students, you probably don’t know how to write complex architecture research papers quickly. This can be a real problem, especially if you need to finish your essay quickly. After all, you probably have several other school projects to focus on – not to mention tests and exams. This is why we will give you more than just awesome architecture research paper topics. We will help you with a guide on how to write a great paper quickly:

• First, go through our architectural research topics and pick the one you like the most.
• Write a thesis statement. In a sentence, tell your readers what your paper aims to demonstrate.
• Write an introduction for your essay. This is where you present your thesis statement and tell your audience a bit more about the subject.
• Write three or more body paragraphs, each dealing with a single idea. Generally, you will start the paragraph with a clear statement and then use the rest of the paragraph to bring evidence in support of your statement.
• Write a conclusion for your research paper. Most often, it’s enough to restate the thesis and summarize all your findings. Tell your audience how your findings support your thesis and wrap everything up with a call to action (this is optional).
• Edit your work and delete parts that are redundant, don’t make sense or are simply unnecessary. Add more content to parts that need it.
• Proofread your work at least twice. Who wants to lose some points over silly mistakes like typos or spelling errors?

Best Architectural Topics for Research

Now that you know what you need to do to write a paper quickly, you probably want to minimize the time you spend searching for architectural topics for research. This is where we can definitely help you. Take a look at our list of 115 awesome architecture paper topics and use as many of them as you like. All of them are 100% free!

Interesting Questions About Architecture

Here are some interesting questions about architecture that should fire up your creative engine:

• What are the costs of an architect?
• Is concrete obsolete in 2023?
• How long does it take to design a unique skyscraper?
• What are the worst architectural mistakes of the 1900s?
• What does an architect really do?
• How do you pick the right architect for a major project?
• What is the worst thing about architecture in the UK?
• Is architecture an artistic profession?
• What are the expected advancements in architecture in 2023?
• How long will we continue to use steel?
• What are the best ways to design a skyscraper?
• Is architecture a creative profession?
• Why is planning a bridge so difficult?

Easy Research Topics in Architecture

If you don’t want to spend more than a few hours working on your architecture paper, we have a list of easy research topics in architecture right here:

• A short history of architecture in the United States
• Discuss urban planning in Eastern Europe
• Talk about maritime technology
• Ancient Greek architecture
• Talk about metal fatigue in skyscrapers
• Is it difficult being an architect?
• Ancient Roman architecture
• The importance of restoring heritage buildings
• Talk about innovations in bridge design
• Architecture in Asian countries
• Planning a new urban park in your neighborhood
• Discuss climate control in modern buildings
• Architecture in African countries

Topics Related to Public Structures

Designing public structures is not an easy thing to do, but writing a paper about them shouldn’t be too difficult. Here are some nice topics related to public structures:

• An in-depth look at the design of the Lincoln Memorial
• Design the plan of a new bank in your neighborhood
• Designing a new skyscraper in your city
• An in-depth look at the design of the Empire State Building
• Building the latest public service building in the city
• A space research center in Colorado Springs
• An in-depth look at the design of the White House
• Research the design of the United States Capitol building
• The Golden Gate Bridge: an innovative design

Top Ideas Related to Urban Planning

Interested in talking about urban planning? No problem, we can help. Take a look at our list of top ideas related to urban planning:

• An in-depth look at bicycle transportation in New York City
• Research the rational-comprehensive approach to urban planning
• Housing peculiarities in Scotland
• Discuss the importance of urban design in 2023
• Discuss the Concentric Model Zone by Ernest Burgess
• How can you become a successful urban planner?
• The importance of landscape in modern urbanism
• An in-depth look at housing affordability in the UK
• Planning land use in large cities in North America
• What is the role of an urban planner?
• Transport problems in London
• Discuss the Three Magnets theory by Ebenezer Howard

Architecture Thesis Topics

In case you’ve ran out of ideas for a topic, we have some of the best architecture thesis topics on the Internet. Check out these original ideas:

• Talk about the latest trends in environmental tech
• Discuss urban intensification challenges
• Design a brand new shopping mall in your area
• An efficient plan of the London transportation system
• Latest trends in theatre architecture
• Talk about lighting technology in Egyptian pyramids
• Common problems when designing a skyscraper
• Latest advancements in virtual planning

Complex Architectural Topics for Research

We know some students want to try something a bit more difficult to impress their professor. Here are some pretty complex architectural topics for research:

• Compare urban housing with rural housing in the UK
• The use of concrete in 2023
• Modern building technologies
• The latest building materials
• Talk about resource use maximization
• Discuss the impact of environmental technology on architecture
• Talk about the peculiarities of Islamic architecture
• Discuss planning a new school in a rural area

Great Architecture Thesis Ideas

If you are preparing to start working on your thesis, you will be thrilled to learn that we have a list of great architecture thesis ideas for you:

• Talk about the theories behind resilient designs
• Solving traffic congestions in New York City
• Building materials of the future
• Talk about sustainable rural development
• What are the principles of lightweight architecture?
• Materials used in ancient architecture
• The importance of using domes in your designs
• How can you make architecture an art?

Interesting Topics Related to Architecture

This is where our writers and editors selected the most interesting ideas. Check out our most interesting topics related to architecture:

• Talk about the rehabilitation of an ancient structure
• The design of Egyptian temples
• What do you think architecture will look like in 100 years?
• Indoor air quality and architecture
• Historic French architecture peculiarities
• How can you maximize usable space in your designs?
• Talk about constructing in extreme weather conditions
• How important are arches in 2023?

Interior Design Topics

If you want your research paper to be about something in interior design, our experts have compiled a list of unique interior design topics for you:

• Is interior design a dying industry?
• Talk about how people perceive colors
• The latest decorating styles in the UK
• The best color combinations in 2023
• Latest trends in interior design
• Differences in interior design in 3 different countries
• Talk about the rise of statement ceilings
• Curves instead of straight lines in 2023

Good Topics for High School Students

Our list wouldn’t be complete without a section of good topics for high school students. Check out these ideas and take your pick:

• Discuss why arches are important
• Is interior design a part of architecture?
• How do domes influence modern designs?
• Design a simple living space
• Design a new stadium in your area
• What is lightweight architecture?
• Talk about Roman concrete

Awesome Ideas for College

Are you a college student looking for top notch topics for his next architecture research paper? Check out these great awesome ideas for college:

• What is the most important building material today?
• Discuss the creation of 3D architectural designs
• Discuss about weather effects on buildings
• Common problems designing a hospital
• How did Covid-19 influence architecture?
• Talk about the use of technology in architecture
• The importance of virtual planning

Thesis Topics Related to Cultural Facilities

If you want to write your next paper on something related to culture, we have some of the best thesis topics related to cultural facilities:

• Design a new library in your city
• How important is the design of a cultural facility?
• Designing multidisciplinary spaces in 2023
• The concept of resonating with people
• The importance of integrating nature into your designs
• Making effective use of land in your designs
• Designing a worship center worthy of an award

Controversial Architecture Topics

Of course, we encourage every student to write about controversial topics. In fact, we have some very interesting controversial architecture topics right here:

• The design and building of the Sagrada Familia
• The lack of a national building code in Nigeria
• Discuss the problems involved with collaborative processes
• Trust issues in the modern world of architecture
• An in-depth look at the Scottish Parliament Building
• Is a good architect a good designer?
• Are building codes in the US flawed?

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