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Chapter 05: Synthesis: Dhvsu-Architectural Thesis Manual 2020-2021

This chapter discusses the synthesis phase of an architectural thesis. It provides guidance on developing the design philosophy, goals and objectives, concepts, inspiration, and parameters to guide the design translation. The synthesis phase summarizes all previous work and links it to the design translation. It establishes the unifying design philosophy and flexible concepts. The goals and objectives focus specifically on design aspects. Parameters consider existing standards and design guidelines to restrict the project within legal requirements.

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Allain Judd Centeno
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121 views

Chapter 05: Synthesis: Dhvsu-Architectural Thesis Manual 2020-2021

This chapter discusses the synthesis phase of an architectural thesis. It provides guidance on developing the design philosophy, goals and objectives, concepts, inspiration, and parameters to guide the design translation. The synthesis phase summarizes all previous work and links it to the design translation. It establishes the unifying design philosophy and flexible concepts. The goals and objectives focus specifically on design aspects. Parameters consider existing standards and design guidelines to restrict the project within legal requirements.

Uploaded by

Allain Judd Centeno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

Chapter
CHAPTER 05: SYNTHESIS
05
You’re almost done! This is the phase where you summarize all
that has been done in the book. You may have to go back to your
objectives and see if you were able to meet them or restructure
your concepts so that your readers will have a clearer vision of
what you plan to do in your Design 10 (knock on wood!). This
chapter will be your LINK to your translation in your bid for an
architectural degree. How about that for a push?!

The discussions to follow may not be new to you for you have been
doing this for the past four, five, or more so years in your stay
in the institute. These are the basic contents of your concept
board. Something you should have known now by heart.

5.1 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY


Sure, you have established the theories and the concepts you’ll
need for your proposal, but it wouldn’t be enough to just have
them and let loose of the unifying thing in work. Philosophies do
this. These are the bases of your ideas for the
proposal, a guiding dictum which gels your proposed work into
one, single composition. There are two types of philosophy. One,
coming from a person, living or not, who may have studied the
same topics you’re dealing with and defined ideas appropriate for
your study. Thus, you have to quote them and tell your readers
so.

And two, it may be YOUR OWN notions for the project. Yes, you can
be a philosopher, why not? And so, you are able to conceive your
own thought especially if you were the one who proposed
the study. CAUTION: you may be tempted to user
philosophies you already have used for your design plates when
you were in your lower years. Why not? But see to it that it
would be applicable for your project you’re doing. Philosophies
are NOT FIXED. On the contrary, they should be FLEXIBLE.

Meaning, they must bend to where they should go and reflect the
design you would like to have for your project, and vice versa.
And you must understand them! “Form follow function” may be a
cute cliché but WAKE UP! You CANNOT use it all the time. Dictums
DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

of well-known architects (refer to your Theory of Architectural


Design 02) will be a great deal of help for you in doing this part
of your thesis.

5.2 DESIGN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES


Nope, you are not going back to your chapter 1 and rewrite the
objectives and goals you have written there, though this may be
your take-off point. You could base your design objectives from
the objectives of your thesis. But take note that these
are DESIGN goals and objectives – different from the
goals and objectives of your STUDY. The things you’ll present
here are the ones relative to your probable DESIGN. What do you
wish to do with your structures? How would you like the systems
to go? What would you like to achieve at the end of your
translation? Hey, wait! These do not only pertain to the possible
appearance of the structures but the overall objectives of the
design as well. In other words, these are more FOCUSED on the
DESIGN aspects of your project. See, perhaps you now realize
that there REALLY IS a difference after all.

5.3 DESIGN CONCEPTS


Concepts are thought concerning the way several elements
or characteristics can be combined into a SINGLE THING.
In architecture, a concept also identifies how various aspects of
the requirements for a building can be brought together
in a SPECIFIC thought that DIRECTLY influences the DESIGN
and its CONFIGURATION. This only means that the concepts
you will be providing will somehow wrap up the totality
of your design program.

Do you still remember the discussion in the framework? While that


framework will be your THRUST, the Design Concepts will be the
BACKBONE of the ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN. And they should go hand in
hand to effectively work together – the framework and
the concepts.

This may be simple for you to understand if you were getting high
grades in your concept boards in your past design subjects. If
not, here’s a review of your design concepts. Basically there are
five (5) types of concepts in architecture. See if you can still
remember them.

1. Analogy (looking at other things)


DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

Here you identify possible, literal relationships


between things. You tend to look for a desirable
characteristics of an object and make this as the model for
your project.

2. Metaphors and Simile


This type of concept also identifies relationships
between things. However, the relationships are abstract
rather than literal. You may have to establish certain
patterns of parallel relationships.

3. Essences
The whole program that you have for your thesis, complicated as
it is, is explained in terms of terse, explicit statements. It
has to connote insights, meaning, and your personal
accounts for the project. Most of the time, this comes with a
conceptual scenario – a short essay that tie together all the
important factors and ideas that influenced the design
solution. It may also be something which discovers the roots of
the issues.

4.
Programmatic
This is what you have been doing all the while in your lower
design subjects, where you write the problems, come up with
the objectives, state your philosophers and come up
with a concept at the end. In that way you directly respond
to the stated requirements.
5.
Ideals
Here you look at the universality of the concept. You view the
project as a universal one – something which will be a
universal solution for even a general problem

So, how well did you fare in remembering them? You don’t have
to use all five at the same time. You just have to choose
which of the fits your thesis.

5.4 DESIGN INSPIRATION


Whether it’s a sailboat, moon, or orange wedges that inspired
John Utzon to a design the Sydney Opera House wouldn’t matter at
this point as long as it will look good on paper. On this sub-
topic you will state your inspiration and vision of what your
DHVSU-ARCHITECTURAL THESIS MANUAL 2020-2021

project will look like. It can be reflected on different aspects


and features of your proposed projects.

5.5 DESIGN PARAMETERS


All you need to do now is check the existing standards applicable
to your thesis for translation. These will comprise your design
parameters. You may also want to call these as Design
CONSIDERATIONS. And as the term conveys, you are to state the
thing s you would have to consider in doing your design. This
applies both to the structures and its immediate
environment (both the micron and the macro). You may have to be
guided with legal documents and follow pertinent laws to do this.
Building Orientation, Circulation, Security, Accessibility,
and Economy may be the factors you would be looking at here. But
it would not just end in writing these headings. It would
involve an explanation along with a long list of the laws, rules
and orders governing such considerations. Yes, you’re right
again! This part will be your DESIGN GUIDELINES which will tell
your readers as well the restrictions for your project. Having
established the guidelines would only mean you’re ready to
go to you drawing board and translate this book into
ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.

Chapter
06
CHAPTER 06: TRANSLATION

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