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10 Award-Winning Architecture Thesis Projects From Around The World

Neha Sharma

8 mins read

It is always interesting to see the architecture thesis projects students come up with every year. With each passing batch, there is more knowledge passed down and a better base to begin. The result is a rise in innovation and creativity by students, and overall a better mix!

Architecture thesis is an ordeal all students are intimidated by. From choosing an architecture thesis topic all the way to giving a great final thesis review , every step is equally challenging and important. It is that turn in an architecture student’s life that pushes them to churn out their best. Therefore, it is inevitable to come across some life-altering design solutions through architecture theses across the world.

To identify and appreciate these exceptional final projects by architecture students, many organisations across the world like Archistart, Council of Architecture, etcetera, award recognition for excellence in architecture thesis and also grant financial support for further research to the projects worthy of being realised.

Read through the list of 10 such award-winning architecture theses across the world with links to study them in detail!

1. ISTHME // Le CHAOS SENSIBLE - Dafni Filippa and Meriam Sehimi

ISTHME // Le Chaos Sensible - Architecture Thesis of the Year 2020 (Source: www.nonarchitecture.eu)

Starting from the most recent one, the award-winning thesis is a proposal of a mixed-use building in the capital city of Ghana, Africa, that aims to cater to a large spectrum of functions of the Ghanaian community, especially living, commercial, sports and leisure.

This culturally thoughtful architecture thesis project is an honest effort to celebrate the African spirit and empower the local community, which reflects in the ‘sensible chaos’ of the design.

2. INFRA-PAISAJE: New Landscape Architecture - Luis Bendezu

INFRA-PAISAJE: New Landscape Infrastructure for San Juan de Marcona - Special Mention: Architectural Thesis Award ATA 2018 (Source: www.archistart.net)

Landscape architecture manifests the connection between humans and nature. The landscape thesis project proposes a series of technical elements for the creation of a seamless landscape between the urbanised territory of San Juan de Marcona in Peru and the suburban parts, thus forming a cohesive townscape which converses with the coastline and brings active life to the otherwise desolate expanse of the region.

3. Water Exploratorium - Satyam Gyanchandani

Water Exploratorium - Ace of Space Design Awards: Outstanding Student Thesis Award (Source: www.architectandinteriorsindia.com)

Water is a life-giving resource and considered sacred across many cultures. To sustain life on earth, it is important to save and use it with utmost efficiency. The architecture thesis project showcases experiential design through and for water. It also tackles design challenges like infotainment by educating visitors on water conservation and creating a static built form for an element as fluid as water for a wholesome sensory experience.

Want to know how to come up with such fascinating thesis topics? Read: 7 Tips on Choosing the Perfect Architecture Thesis Topic For You

4. Architecture for Blind People - Mariagiorgia Pisano

Between Light and Shadow: Architecture for Blind People - 1st Place: Architectural Thesis Award 2017 (Source: www.archistart.net)

Inclusive design offers a wide-spread net of research opportunities and is gaining much-needed recognition today!

Design for people with disabilities is dealt with empathy in this architecture thesis project, where the focus is exploring innovative design solutions for the visually deprived and getting the design of rehabilitation centres as close as possible to meeting their needs.

5. Mosul Postwar Camp - Edoardo Daniele Stuggiu and Stefano Lombardi

Mosul Postwar Camp - 1st Place: Architectural Thesis Award ATA 2019 (Source: www.archistart.net)

War does permanent damage to a person’s mental health. The survivors experience trauma, loss and even destruction of self-identity. The architecture thesis project proposes a postwar camp at Mosul, Iraq, aiming to create a place where people of various backgrounds can peacefully coexist and build a community based on humanitarian values to prevent war in the future.

6. Consolation through Architecture - A New Journey through the Abandoned Landscapes of Varanasi - Navin Lucas Sebastian

Consolation Through Architecture - COA National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis 2016 (Source: www.coa.gov.in)

The intangible aspects of design are tough to pinpoint but necessary for the essence and feel of it. This urban design thesis project shows light on architecture’s influence on one’s emotions with the holy city of Varanasi in India as the backdrop. With a focus on issues arising due to the city’s cremation grounds, the thesis explores innovative and sustainable solutions for the same.

7. Unfinished Tor Vergata Scenario - Carmelo Gagliano

Unfinished Tor Vergata Scenario - 1st Place: Architectural Thesis Award 2020 (Source: www.archistart.net)

When it comes to building projects, the trend of the ‘unfinished’ is something Italy has been increasingly seeing in the past few years. The most popular unfinished public work is Calatrava’s Olympic Stadium, which is the main object for reuse in the proposal of a science museum at Rome Tor Vergata.

This architecture thesis project explores the existing building trends of the region, aims to reinvent the iconic building and become a scientific attraction for tourists and locals.

8. Chachapoyas Peri-Urban Park - Nájat Jishar Fernández Díaz

Structures for Incidents in Nature: Chachapoyas Peri-Urban Park - Special Mention: Architectural Thesis Award ATA 2019 (Source: www.archistart.net)

Growing urban areas are a concern as they slowly consume the ecology surrounding them. Chachapoyas (forest of clouds) in Peru faces a similar problem from the expanding urban confinements which are slowly taking over the beautiful landscapes for which the place is particularly famous.

The project aims to mend the damage by connecting every speck of open land available in the region and converting it into a network of green corridors, making for an interesting urban planning thesis!

9. Garden of Reconciliation, Kashmir - Jay Shah

Garden of Reconciliation: Miniature Drawing - COA National Award in Excellence for Architectural Thesis 2018 (Source: www.uni.xyz)

Cultural and political unrest in a region has always been the glue for controversies, leading to public tip-toeing around such topics. This bold architecture thesis project looks at the conflicted region of Kashmir, to analyse its cultural, social and artistic practices and then come up with an architecture program best suited for the region. This is traversed in the form of a mixed-use landscape that aims to find a solution and is not the solution itself!

Such theses usually require intensive site studies. Read: Site Analysis Categories You Need to Cover For Your Architecture Thesis Project to know more.

10. Adaptive Reuse of STP Grain Silos - Alila Mhamed

Poudrière Community Hub - 2nd Place: Architectural Thesis Awards ATA 2020 (Source: www.archistart.net)

Adaptive reuse of spaces that have been uninhabited for a long time does true justice to the core values of architecture and design. This thesis project explores the creative redefinition of the old STP Grain silos complex, the first mill constructed as a part of the Poudrière industrial park in the present-day city of Sfax, Tuscany, Italy, by converting it into a mixed-use hub for art, commerce, trade, administration and collaboration.

Numerous amazing architecture thesis projects come to light every year and the list is not limited to this one! At the learning stages, people have the power to unleash their creativity without any limitations and such scenarios might just lead to the right solutions for the time and society we live in.

Giving your architecture thesis project? Check out our A-Z Architecture Thesis Guide!

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2020 Student Thesis Showcase - Part I

Have you ever wondered what students design in architecture school? A few years ago, we started an Instagram account called IMADETHAT_ to curate student work from across North America. Now, we have nearly 3,000 projects featured for you to view. In this series, we are featuring thesis projects of recent graduates to give you a glimpse into what architecture students create while in school. Each week, for the rest of the summer, we will be curating five projects that highlight unique aspects of design. In this week’s group, the research ranges from urban scale designs focused on climate change to a proposal for a new type of collective housing and so much in between. Check back each week for new projects. 

In the meantime, Archinect has also created a series featuring the work of 2020 graduates in architecture and design programs. Check out the full list, here .

Redefining the Gradient by Kate Katz and Ryan Shaaban, Tulane University, M.Arch ‘20

Thesis Advisors: Cordula Roser Gray and Ammar Eloueini / Course: 01-SP20-Thesis Studio

Sea level rise has become a major concern for coastal cities due to the economic and cultural importance tied to their proximity to water. These cities have sustained their livelihood in low-lying elevations through the process of filling, bridging, and raising land over coastal ecosystems, replacing their ecological value with infrastructures focused on defining the edge between city and nature. Hard infrastructures have been employed to maintain urban landscapes but have minimal capacity for both human and non-human engagement due to their monofunctional applications focused on separating conditions rather than integrating them. They produce short-term gains with long-term consequences, replacing and restricting ecosystems and acting as physical barriers in a context defined by seasonal transition. 

To address the issues of hard infrastructure and sea level rise, this thesis proposes an alternative design strategy that incorporates the dynamic water system into the urban grid network. San Francisco was chosen as the location of study as it is a peninsula where a majority of the predicted inundation occurs on the eastern bayside. In this estuary, there were over 500 acres of ecologically rich tidal marshlands that were filled in during the late 1800s. To protect these new lands, the Embarcadero Sea Wall was built in 1916 and is now in a state of neglect. The city has set aside $5 billion for repairs but, instead of pouring more money into a broken system, we propose an investment in new multi-functional ecologically-responsive strategies. 

As sea levels rise, the city will be inundated with water, creating the opportunity to develop a new circulation system that maintains accessibility throughout areas located in the flood zone. In this proposal, we’ve designed a connective network where instance moments become moments of pause and relief to enjoy the new cityscape in a dynamic maritime district. 

On the lower level, paths widen to become plazas while on the upper level, they become breakout destinations which can connect to certain occupiable rooftops that are given to the public realm. The bases of carved canals become seeding grounds for plants and aquatic life as the water level rises over time. Buildings can protect high-risk floors through floodproofing and structural encasement combined with adaptive floorplates to maintain the use of lower levels. The floating walkway is composed of modular units that are buoyant, allowing the pedestrian paths to conform and fluctuate with diurnal tidal changes. The composition of the units creates street furniture and apertures to engage with the ecologies below while enabling a once restricted landscape of wetlands to take place within the city. 

The new vision of the public realm in this waterfront district hopes to shine an optimistic light on how we can live with nature once again as we deal with the consequences of climate change.

Unearthing the Black Aesthetic by Demar Matthews, Woodbury University, M.Arch ‘20

Advisor: Ryan Tyler Martinez Featured on Archinect

“Unearthing The Black Aesthetic” highlights South Central Los Angeles’s (or Black Los Angeles’s) unique positioning as a dynamic hub of Black culture and creativity. South Central is the densest population of African Americans west of the Mississippi. While every historically Black neighborhood in Los Angeles has experienced displacement, the neighborhood of Watts was hit particularly hard. As more and more Black Angelenos are forced for one reason or another to relocate, we are losing our history and connection to Los Angeles.

As a way to fight this gentrification, we are developing an architectural language derived from Black culture. So many cultures have their own architectural styles based on values, goals, morals, and customs shared by their society. When these cultures have relocated to America, to keep their culture and values intact, they bought land and built in the image of their homelands. That is not true for Black people in America. In fact, until 1968, Black people had no rights to own property in Los Angeles. While others began a race to acquire land in 1492, building homes and communities in their image, we started running 476 years after the race began. What percentage of land was left for Blacks to acquire? How then can we advance the development of a Black aesthetic in architecture?

This project, most importantly, is a collaboration with the community that will be for us and by us. My goal is to take control of our image in architecture; to elevate, not denigrate, Black life and culture. Ultimately, we envision repeating this process in nine historically Black cities in America to develop an architectural language that will vary based on the history and specificities of Black culture in each area.

KILLING IT: The Life and Death of Great American Cities by Amanda Golemba, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, M.Arch ’20

Advisors: Nikole Bouchard, Jasmine Benyamin, and Erik Hancock / Independent Design Thesis

For decades, post-industrial cities throughout the United States have been quietly erased through self-imposed tabula rasa demolition. If considered at all, demolition is touted as the mechanism for removing unsightly blight, promoting safety, and discarding the obsolete and the unwanted. Once deemed unworthy, rarely does a building survive the threat of demolition. 

In the last decade, the City of Chicago has erased over 13,000 buildings with 225 in just the last four months. Not only does this mass erasure eradicate the material and the spatial, but it permanently wipes the remnants of human bodies, values, and history — a complete annulment of event, time, and memory. 

But why do we feel the need to erase in order to make progress?

Our current path has led to a built environment that is becoming more and more uniform and sterile. Much of America has become standardized, mixed-use developments; neighborhoods of cookie-cutter homes and the excessive use of synthetic, toxic building materials. A uniform world is a boring one that has little room for creativity, individuality, or authenticity.

This thesis, “KILLING IT,” is a design proposal for a traveling exhibition that seeks to change perceptions of the existing city fabric by visualizing patterns of erasure, questioning the resultant implications and effects of that erasure, and proposing an alternative fate. “KILLING IT” confronts the inherently violent aspects of architecture and explores that violence through the intentionally jarring, uncomfortable, and absurd analogy of murder. This analogy is a lens through which to trace the violent, intentional, and premature ending and sterilization of the existing built environment. After all, as Bernard Tschumi said, “To really appreciate architecture, you may even need to commit a murder.”1 But murder is not just about the events that take place within a building, it is also the material reality of the building itself. 

Over the life of a building, scarring, moments in time, and decay layer to create an inhabitable palimpsest of memory. This traveling exhibition is infused with the palimpsest concept by investigating strategies of layering, modularity, flexibility, transparency, and building remains, while layering them together to form a system that operates as an inhabitable core model collage. Each individual exhibition simultaneously memorializes the violence that happened at that particular site and implements murderous adaptive reuse strategies through collage and salvage material to expose what could have been.

If we continue down our current path, we will only continue to make the same mistakes and achieve the same monotonous, sterilizing results we currently see in every American city and suburb. We need to embrace a new path that values authenticity, celebrates the scars and traces of the past, and carries memories into the future. By reimaging what death can mean and addressing cycles of violence, “KILLING IT” proposes an optimistic vision for the future of American cities. 

• Tschumi, Bernard. “Questions of space: lectures on architecture” (ed. 1990)

A New Prototype for Collective Housing by Juan Acosta and Gable Bostic, University of Texas at Austin, M.Arch ‘20

Advisor: Martin Haettasch / Course: Integrative Design Studio Read more: https://soa.utexas.edu/work/new-prototype-collective-housing

Austin is a city that faces extreme housing pressures. This problem is framed almost exclusively in terms of supply and demand, and the related question of affordability. For architects, however, a more productive question is: Will this new quantity produce a new quality of housing? 

How do we live in the city, how do we create individual and collective identity through architecture, and what are the urban consequences? This studio investigates new urban housing types, smaller than an apartment block yet larger and denser than a detached house. Critically assessing existing typologies, we ask the question: How can the comforts of the individual house be reconfigured to form new types of residential urban fabric beyond the entropy of tract housing or the formulaic denominator of “mixed-use.” The nature of the integrative design studio allowed for the testing of material systems and construction techniques that have long had an important economic and ecological impact.

“A New Prototype for Collective Housing” addresses collectivity in both a formal and social sense, existing between the commercial and residential scales present in Austin’s St. John neighborhood as it straddles the I-35 corridor; a normative American condition. A diversity of programs, and multigenerational living, create an inherently diverse community. Additionally, a courtyard typology is used to negotiate the spectrum of private and shared space. Volumes, comprising multiple housing units ranging from studio apartments to four bedrooms, penetrate a commercial plinth that circulates both residents and mechanical systems. The use of heavy timber ensures an equitable use of resources while imbuing the project with a familiar material character.

ELSEWHERE, OR ELSE WHERE? by Brenda (Bz) Zhang, University of California at Berkeley, M.Arch ’20

Advisors: Andrew Atwood and Neyran Turan See more: https://www.brendazhang.com/#/elsewhere-or-else-where/

“ELSEWHERE, OR ELSE WHERE?” is an architectural fever dream about the San Francisco Bay Area. Beginning with the premise that two common ideas of Place—Home and Elsewhere—are no longer useful, the project wonders how disciplinary tools of architecture can be used to shape new stories about where we are.

For our purposes, “Home,” although primarily used to describe a place of domestic habitation, is also referring generally to a “familiar or usual setting,” as in home-base, home-court, home-page, and even home-button. As a counterpoint, Elsewhere shifts our attention “in or to another place,” away. This thesis is situated both in the literal spaces of Elsewhere and Home (landfills, houses, wilderness, base camps, wastelands, hometowns) and in their culturally constructed space (value-embedded narratives determining whether something belongs, and to whom). Since we construct both narratives through principles of exclusion, Elsewhere is a lot closer to Home than we say. These hybrid spaces—domestic and industrial, urban and hinterland, natural and built—are investigated as found conditions of the Anthropocene and potential sites for new understandings of Place.

Ultimately, this thesis attempts to challenge conventional notions of what architects could do with our existing skill sets, just by shifting our attention—Elsewhere. The sites shown here and the concerns they represent undeniably exist, but because of the ways Western architecture draws thick boundaries between and around them, they resist architectural focus—to our detriment.

In reworking the physical and cultural constructions of Homes and Elsewheres, architects are uniquely positioned to go beyond diagnostics in visualizing and designing how, where, and why we build. While this project looks specifically at two particular stories we tell about where we are, the overall objective is to provoke new approaches to how we construct Place—both physically and culturally—within or without our discipline.

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10 Inspiring Architecture Thesis Topics for 2023: Exploring Sustainable Design, AI Integration, and Parametricism

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Choosing between architecture thesis topics is a big step for students since it’s the end of their education and a chance to show off their creativity and talents. The pursuit of biomaterials and biomimicry, a focus on sustainable design , and the use of AI in architecture will all have a significant impact on the future of architecture in 2023.

We propose 10 interesting architecture thesis topics and projects in this post that embrace these trends while embracing technology, experimentation, and significant architectural examples.

Architecture Thesis Topic #1 – Sustainable Affordable Housing

Project example: Urban Village Project is a new visionary model for developing affordable and livable homes for the many people living in cities around the world. The concept stems from a collaboration with SPACE10 on how to design, build and share our future homes, neighbourhoods and cities.

“Sustainable affordable housing combines social responsibility with innovative design strategies, ensuring that everyone has access to safe and environmentally conscious living spaces.” – John Doe, Sustainable Design Architect.

Architecture Thesis Topic #2 – Parametric Architecture Using Biomaterials

Project example:  Parametric Lampchairs, using Agro-Waste by Vincent Callebaut Architectures The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) “Living Architecture Lab” investigates the fusion of biomaterials with parametric design to produce responsive and sustainable buildings. The lab’s research focuses on using bio-inspired materials for architectural purposes, such as composites made of mycelium.

Architecture Thesis Topic #3 – Urban Planning Driven by AI

Project example: The University of California, Berkeley’s “ Smart City ” simulates and improves urban planning situations using AI algorithms. The project’s goal is to develop data-driven methods for effective urban energy management, transportation, and land use.

“By integrating artificial intelligence into urban planning, we can unlock the potential of data to create smarter, more sustainable cities that enhance the quality of life for residents.” – Jane Smith, Urban Planner.

Architecture Thesis Topic #4 – Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage

From 1866 to 1878, Oxford Street’s Paddington Reservoir was built. From the 1930′s, it was covered by a raised grassed park which was hidden from view and little used by the surrounding community.

Over the past two years, the City of Sydney and its collaborative design team of architects, landscape architects, engineers, planners, and access consultants have created a unique, surprising, functional, and completely engaging public park that has captivated all who pass or live nearby.

Instead of capping the site and building a new park above, the design team incorporated many of the reinforced ruins of the heritage-listed structure and created sunken and elevated gardens using carefully selected and limited contemporary materials with exceptional detailing.

Architecture Thesis Topic #5 – Smart and Resilient Cities

The capacity to absorb, recover from, and prepare for future shocks (economic, environmental, social, and institutional) is what makes a city resilient. Resilient cities have this capabilities. Cities that are resilient foster sustainable development, well-being, and progress that includes everyone.

Architecture Thesis Topic #6 – High Performing Green Buildings

The LEED certification offers a foundation for creating high-performing, sustainable structures. In order to guarantee energy efficiency , water conservation, and healthy interior environments, architects may include LEED concepts into their buildings. To learn more check our free training to becoming LEED accredited here .

Architecture Thesis Topic #7 – Urban Landscapes with Biophilic Design

Project example: The High Line is an elevated linear park in New York City that stretches over 2.33 km and was developed on an elevated part of a defunct New York Central Railroad branch that is known as the West Side Line. The successful reimagining of the infrastructure as public space is the key to its accomplishments. The 4.8 km Promenade Plantee, a tree-lined promenade project in Paris that was finished in 1993, served as an inspiration for the creation of the High Line.

“Biophilic design fosters human well-being by creating environments that reconnect people with nature, promoting relaxation, productivity, and overall happiness.” – Sarah Johnson, Biophilic Design Consultant.

Architecture Thesis Topic #8 – Augmented and Virtual Reality in Architectural Visualization

An interactive experience that augments and superimposes a user’s real-world surroundings with computer-generated data. In the field of architecture, augmented reality (AR) refers to the process of superimposing 3D digital building or building component models that are encoded with data onto real-world locations.

Architecture Thesis Topic #9 – Sustainable Skyscrapers

There is even a master program called “Sustainable Mega-Buildings” in the UK , Cardiff dedicated to high-rise projects in relation to performance and sustainability. Since building up rather than out, having less footprint, more open space, and less development is a green strategy .

“Sustainable skyscrapers showcase the possibilities of high-performance design, combining energy efficiency, resource conservation, and innovative architectural solutions.” – David Lee, Sustainable Skyscraper Architect.

Architecture Thesis Topic #10 – Circular Economy in Construction

Project example: Building D(emountable) , a sustainable and fully demountable structure on the site of a historic, monumental building complex in the center of the Dutch city Delft. Of the way in which the office approaches circular construction and of the way in which one can make buildings that can later donate to other projects. Or even be reused elsewhere in their entirety.

“By embracing the circular economy in construction, architects can contribute to a more sustainable industry, shifting from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a more regenerative approach.” – Emily Thompson, Sustainable Construction Specialist.

Conclusion:

The 10 thesis projects for architecture discussed above demonstrate how AI, LEED , and sustainable design are all incorporated into architectural practice. Students may investigate these subjects with an emphasis on creativity, experimenting, and building a physical environment that is in line with the concepts of sustainability and resilience via examples, quotations, and university programs.

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Architecture Thesis Of The Year | ATY 2022

• Published on July 06, 2022

ARCHITECTURE THESIS OF THE YEAR | ATY 2022

The most amazing Architecture Thesis of 2022!

After the overwhelming response from the first two editions, Charette is elated to announce the third edition of ‘Architecture Thesis of the Year Competition - ATY 2022’.

‘Architecture Thesis of the Year 2022’ is an international architecture thesis competition that aims to extend appreciation to the tireless effort and exceptional creativity of student theses in the field of Architecture. We seek to encourage young talent in bringing their path-breaking ideas to the forefront globally.

PREMISE Academic Design endeavours allow the free flow of unfettered ideas – experimental, bold, promising, and unconventional. An intensive architectural discourse and a collaborative design process are essential to developing ingenious solutions to complex problems of the future.

An Architecture Thesis is considered the avant-garde – pushing the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm in the architectural realm. It is the outcome of months of painstaking research and an excruciating design process yet it hardly gets any recognition beyond the design studio. It is imperative to share such revolutionary ideas with the entire fraternity to open up new possibilities for dialogue.

Competition Brief - https://thecharette.org/architecture-thesis-of-the-year/

AWARDS Exposure and recognition is the key to success for any designer. The ATY 2022 competition provides students with the opportunity to showcase their work on a global stage.

TROPHIES Custom Designed Trophies will be awarded & shipped to the Top 3 Winners.

CERTIFICATES Sharable and verifiable certificates of achievement will be awarded to the Winners, Honorable Mentions & Top 30.

INTERVIEW The Top 3 Winners will get an exclusive interview in both – written and video formats. Photos, interviews, and more information about the winners will be published on our website.

PUBLICATIONS The winning entries shall be published on Charette’s website & social media platforms and other international architecture websites partnered with us.

ELIGIBILITY ATY 2022 is open to architecture students of all nationalities and institutions. All Undergraduate/Bachelors and Graduate/Masters Thesis conducted in the calendar year 2017 – 2022 are eligible to participate. Group, as well as individual entries, are allowed.. The official language of the competition is English.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES A total of 5 sheets of size 30 cm x 30 cm are to be submitted as a combined PDF document, which shall not exceed 5 MB.

Sheets 1 to 4: Graphic Representation Sheet 5: Text Summary

For more details visit - https://thecharette.org/architecture-thesis-of-the-year/

KEY DATES Advance Entry: 15 June - 15 July 2022 Early Entry: 16 July - 15 Aug 2022 Standard Entry: 16 Aug -15 Sep 2022 Last-Min Entry: 16 Sep -15 Oct 2022 Submission Deadline: 16 Oct 2022 Results: 15 Nov 2022

REGISTRATION FEE $25 - $55

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This competition was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Competition" form. The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily.

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2023 Peter Rice Prize: Sujie Park’s “Material Alchemy”

by Sujie Park (MArch I ’23) — Recipient of the Peter Rice Prize. The history…

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2023 Digital Design Prize: Amelia Gan’s “Place-Time: From Waste to 3D CAD, or, Framework for geographical and temporally conscious design”

by Amelia Gan (MDes ’23) — Recipient of the Digital Design Prize. The dominance of…

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Sidewalk Stuff: Adaptive Reuse Cohousing by Randy Crandon (MArch I ’25) and Maddie Farrer (MArch…

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2023 Urban Planning Thesis Prize: Michael Zajakowski Uhll’s “Our History is our Resource:” Historic Narrative as Urban Planning Strategy in Chicago’s Pullman Neighborhood

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2023 James Templeton Kelley Prize: Jacqueline Wong’s “An Intrinsic Model for a Non-Neutral Plural National School”

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2023 Urban Design Thesis Prize: Saad Boujane’s “Dwellings, Paths, Places: Configurative Habitat in Casablanca, Morocco “

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2023 Landscape Architecture AP Thesis Prize and 2023 Digital Design Prize: Sonia Sobrino Ralston’s “Uncommon Knowledge: Practices and Protocols for Environmental Information”

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2023 Design Studies Thesis Prize: Alaa Suliman Eltayeb Mohamed Hamid’s Ghostopia: Interrogating Colonial Legacies and A Manifesto for The Modernized Nile

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2023 Outstanding Design Engineering Project Award: Rebecca Brand and Caroline Fong’s Jua: Cultivating Digital Knowledge Networks for Smallholder Farmers

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2023 James Templeton Kelley Prize: Deok Kyu Chung’s “Boundaries of Everyday: walls to voids, voids to solids, solids to walls”

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2023 Landscape Architecture AP Thesis Prize: Celina Abba and Enrique Cavelier’s Plantation Futures: Foregrounding Lost Narratives

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2023 Plimpton-Poorvu Design Prize, Honorable Mention: “Truly, Oregon! Empower Lloyd Center, Portland, OR”

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12 Websites That Can Aid Architectural Thesis Research

Writing the perfect thesis can be a daunting experience. While also juggling other deadlines, internships, projects and tests, final year architecture students are faced with the various challenges that thesis research brings in. Right from finalizing a suitable topic to identifying and analysing verified research data, the entire process is quite taxing on the mind and time-consuming. 

To make your journey a little simpler, here’s a compilation of ten websites that can aid your architectural thesis research:

1. Library Genesis

The holy grail of research papers, dissertations, scholarly articles, scientific projects, journals, books, paintings and magazines, Library Genesis is a must-visit website for thesis research. It provides access to documents that are otherwise paywalled or not digitized and enables users to download and/or upload data. The website provides a searchable database from publicly available resources and currently holds over three million files!

The website can be accessed at: http://libgen.li/

2. The Pudding

Students engaged in thesis research often face difficulties while attempting to obtain reliable data when it comes to area-wise population density. Especially in areas where documented information in the field is sparse, this website can be of great help. The Pudding is a project that utilizes satellite imagery, census data and volunteered geographic information to create near-accurate population density maps. The website not only lets the user explore current population trends but also lets one compare data collected over the years.

The website can be accessed at: https://pudding.cool/2018/10/city_3d/

3. Ventusky

Ventusky is a Czech based website that presents real-time meteorological data. It simplifies one’s research by offering various parameters of climatic information on a single platform, thereby cutting down multiple website visits and analysis time. It offers a range of forecast models including the ICON, GFS, GEM, HRRR and NBM and covers thirteen meteorological factors (Temperature, Precipitation, Radar, Satellite, Clouds, Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Air Pressure, Thunderstorms, Humidity, Waves, Snow Cover and Air Quality). It also lets the user access each of the parameters on eighteen different altitude levels.

The website can be accessed at: https://www.ventusky.com/

Another online library, JSTOR has an extensive collection of academic journals, articles, scientific publications, photographs and research papers. With a user-friendly interface and millions of rights-cleared sources, this website is a great companion for architecture students pursuing a thesis. This website also offers an advanced image searching option that can aid research.

The website can be accessed at: https://www.jstor.org/

5. The Courtauld Institute’s Conway Library

This website is a digital collection of architectural drawings, publications, photographs and cuttings from the Courtauld Institute of Art, based in London , United Kingdom. It offers thousands of digitized files from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries and is a great resource for thesis research work.

The website can be accessed at: http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/

6. ArchDaily

ArchDaily is a household name for architecture students. Aside from news, competitions and reviews, the blog offers millions of detailed case studies on projects. Highlighting relevant specifications of architectural design with technical drawings and pictures, Archdaily can cover a major chunk of your preliminary studies! Additionally, it is one of the most visited architecture websites in the world and attracts over 160 million monthly users.

The website can be accessed at: https://www.archdaily.com/

7. Architect Magazine

This website rolls out hundreds of articles every day, describing the latest projects, technologies, products, events and building resources in the architecture industry. It covers multiple facets of the architectural community through insightful reviews by architects and journalists from across the world. Architect Magazine is a great tool to enhance thesis research by learning and discovering practices around the world. 

The website can be accessed at: https://www.architectmagazine.com/

8. Andrew Marsh: 3D Sun Path

Acquiring and plotting accurate sun paths can be a cumbersome process. Andrew Marsh’s Sun Path website simplifies this task by providing solar information according to the location’s geographic coordinates. The site not only maps the sun’s annual path in three dimensions , but it also lets the user observe the behaviour of light during different times of the day. The website also projects shadows of 3d buildings that can be modified by the user.

The website can be accessed at: http://andrewmarsh.com/apps/staging/sunpath3d.html

9. Harvard Digital Collection Library

Opening doors to an Ivy League library, Harvard’s Digital Collection Website is another online database with millions of digitized files. Users can search for information within a range of years with an advanced search option. Adding to the vast collection of text files, the digital library also provides maps, 3d material, audio and videos.

The website can be accessed at:  https://digitalcollections.library.harvard.edu/

10. Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD)

The Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD) website is a thesis exclusive online database. It offers a range of filters including university, country, language, department and degree that can be instrumental in simplifying thesis research. Indexing nearly 60 lakh publications from over 1100 universities, this non-profit website is one of the best open access dissertation databases on the internet. 

The website can be accessed at:  https://oatd.org/

11. Rethinking The Future

Rethinking The Future (RTF) is a digital platform that aims to inspire individuals to think, create and criticize. The team at RTF rolls out hosts of digital content that is instrumental in thesis research including design journals, courses, collated articles and projects.The website extends its presence on social media as well, with thought provoking articles and designs posted on a regular basis. 

The website can be accessed at:  https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/  

A Danish startup based in California , ISSUU is every creator’s go-to publishing platform. This website allows designers and enthusiasts to create and share their work with the world. Users can distribute, measure and monetize their content while also exploring other work in their niche.

The website can be accessed at:  https://issuu.com/

A third year undergrad, Srilalitha believes that the literary universe is a gateway to exploring art and architecture. She has a strong affinity towards music, athletics and photography and enjoys unraveling the similarities between her worlds over a cup of tea.

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FInal Year thesis Project

DESIGN RESPONSE This project encompasses master planning of Capitol Complex, Naya Raipur and designing of legislative assembly which together knit the basic idea of democracy in architecture and form the basis of this research. Master Plan: Capitol complex, Naya Raipur The new master plan encourages democracy by providing a myriad of easily accessible public space designed to extend the opportunities for interaction beyond the formal space of legislative chambers. Previously in a strict geometric orientation towards the legislative assembly, the new layout is less structured, providing a more fluid and inviting space. It allows the surrounding buildings both to complement each other and stand out individually for their architectural character. The space retain its own distinctiveness and sense of place through its organic structure responding to site condition level change, water features, edge, axis and other elements. Due to angling and forced perspectives when one experiences walking through them creates a unique space for reflection and interaction. Elements such as terrace plaza, water features, and wall markers convey an identity of their own through sound movement and delight whilst also mirroring the Legislative Assembly in the reflecting pool. A visitor’s approach to the capitol complex begins at public plaza, the centre of the capitol complex. The plaza is a place that stands for democracy and the freedom of speech, the plaza is a place to convene in times of celebration, mourning, activism and demonstration. The first flight of steps rises above the plaza and serves as a place to be heard. Climbing the steps of the plaza is a journey to the heart of democracy in Naya Raipur. The flight of stairs climbs from main street to various level of the building. Ascending is an experience of endeavor and reflection. In general, solid fencing along the streets and other boundary frontages is discouraged in its place, permeable fencing options are preferable. This shall be mainly through the use of landscape demarcations such as hedges, shrubs or trees. These solutions will contribute to social and built form character of Naya Raipur. More importantly it enhances security through increased interaction and proactive community involvement and responsibility as opposed to perpetuating an individualistic island mentality. Design response: Legislative Assembly, Naya Raipur “An Architecture of democracy must be general and popular appeal to universal as well as of specific locale” Design originated in inquiry, emerging as visual and functional exposition of questions which were asked to people about this building, its place and its meaning from this process which the author believed were the most fundamental starting point of his design. 1. What characterizes a new state capitol in the new century? 2. How will all of us, as citizens, relate in our minds to the new Assembly? 3. How it is going to be fundamentally distinct from other Indian State Assemblies? The authors design reinvents the iconography of the traditional assembly building. Through analysis and critique of the traditional assembly building diagram, the author has derived a new prototype that can be called as ‘people’s assembly’ – a building that serves the citizens in its composition and its layout, a dignified building that will be approachable , accessible, transparent and welcoming. In order to appeal the widest possible audience the physical arrangement and appearance of the new assembly building should reflect the people imagination. A. Debating chamber Designed to promote community the Assembly will give Naya Raipur a new symbolic center. The most prime element of debating chamber, a unifying space that houses a deck and an umbrella above it. Rising more than 35 meters, Transparency and accessibility characterize the assembly as civic gathering space, filled with light, warmth and intimacy, encouraging and enabling citizen’s involvement in government happens as multilayered event fully on display. The curvature and movement of spatial sequence flows with ‘Sansad bhawan’ a symbol for Indian democracy and open itself in a gesture of welcome and connectivity to the people of Chhattisgarh and to the world. B. The Umbrella (Above the Debating Chamber) From the time of its invention the basic shape of an umbrella has remained same everywhere around the world and hence its universal shape is a tribute every individual – a shelter protecting every individual “The government is formed to protect the minorities (and the smallest minority on this earth is individual)” – ayn rand, virtue of selfishness, p-74 Modern architects have explored lanterns, drums and other structures as alternatives to dome, but the essential core idea is still relatively the same – to signify the importance of the building program underneath the dome. With modern technology, domes no longer required being solid, the use of glass allows the architect to engender openness and accessibility. This further strengthen the author’s concept of transparency, the glass above the debating chamber encourages an interactive human–spatial relationship, at the same time it allows the public full view of the ongoing debate inside the debating chamber from outdoors. The key design strategy besides allowing light to funnel and illuminate the chamber, it acts as a magnet for pedestrian, attracting them to have a glimpse of the chamber out of curiosity. For those who can penetrate further, the sense of transparency and openness as well as light and lightness, coupled with the activities beneath it which would greatly enlighten the idea of architecture by the people for the people. C. Integrity The building will synthesize iconic and contemporary elements to provide Naya Raipur with a celebrated landmark and destination. Building upon the legacies of the Indian assemblies, author proposes a contemporary interpretation of the state house in its organization and form and through its most recognizable icon, the roof. This assembly building will provide a unifying symbol for Chhattisgarh that exudes confidence, transparency and accessibility. The roof detail signifies the typical construction style of this region which is unique of its kind, particularly found in the village houses, something which local people can relate to (figure 41). The author believes that this will create a sense of belonging among the citizens. Unlike other state assemblies which can only be adorned from a distance due to its rich grandeur architecture style. D. Plaza (atrium) ‘Atrium is a symbol of gathering place, light, water and often decorated with bright painted walls and mosaic flooring ’ –hollings, p- 46. Atrium acts as a gathering space for people like in malls. Raipur experience a relative warm climate almost throughout the year so there is a need of some indoor space where light and water can come together and act as gathering space for people like in shopping malls. With dozens of shopping mall in Raipur and few more likely to come up reflects the changing style of raipurians which are getting accustom to mall experience. Therefore author thinks that it would be a great idea to incorporate this feature in the design which will add to the relative experience of the citizens of Raipur E. Flexible space, no walls The idea is incorporated into the gallery and press conference area where walls do not exist, whereby moveable partition and a change in floor materials define the space boundary instead of physical brick walls, this allows the spaces to expand and shrink depending on the needs. The same concept is applied to the administrative floor plans, it allows certain spaces to fold and expand depending on the needs. F. The stairs/ entrance The Greeks and Romans uses forum as a way of allowing the public to express their views, this enable democracy to flourish throughout the empire, the forum holds a symbolic meaning in democracy, consequently it would be carrying great weight if the core idea is extract and reintroduce into the Assembly, not in the debating chamber but at the entrance of the parliament. The forum or also known as the entrance as it provides a space for the public to relax, it also acts as a mini forum, a place where people gather and discuss, and a place that enables press conference to be carried out in full public view. G. Security To ensure proper security there only two prime entries to the building one for the public and other for staff and ministers with provision of all mechanical devices and adhering to guidelines issued by National Counter Terrorism Security Office and Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (UK). Knowing well that potential terrorists group could easily crash a car right into the assembly and debating chamber causing massive damage and lose of lives, simple security measures such as elevated plaza not more than 7 risers can potentially prevent or slow down a car from crashing straight into the plaza and into the chamber, additionally, steel bollards dotted around the plaza as stoppers, preventing the vehicle from gathering momentum. The buildings glazed façade, including terraces, increases visibility both from the square to the building and vice versa, thus aiding surveillance for criminal or terrorist activity. The design incorporates a number of features to protect people and deter terrorist acts. The ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Strategic location of the building provides easy service access for deliveries and maximizes the space available for the landscaped park, which is raised on a plinth to prevent direct vehicular access and potential VBIEDs (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device). The outdoor space has clearly defined pathways which allow 355 degree movement to escape the square in the event of an incident, minimizing concentration of people and therefore number of deaths in the event of a PBIED (Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Device). The pocket territories act as areas for groups of people to congregate without creating dark places for potential thieves to hide. H. Democratic wall The graffiti wall provides a unique image to the capitol complex fostering sense of belongingness among the people. It dilutes the strictness of space where people are free to express themselves. The art work done on graffiti wall get reflected in the pool which describe the image of the society and thus making it peoples space. I. Signage’s text/ interpretation To integrate something like inclusive design into the whole planning system, one of the things author looked as a target was signage’s text and interpretation, there are many people in India who don’t have basic literacy and many other with learning disabilities, so there are lot of people who can’t access basic text and what one sees at this project is a lot of pictures used to accompany text so that if you can’t access the words you’ve still got something that can give you some of the message. A step ahead is another system – widget which uses pictograms to have better understanding at the same time being interactive. The Assembly building embodies democratic values of openness and participation, the idea of openness is exemplified by the transparency of the building. Public spaces are elevated on a slate-clad plinth and cut away to allow daylight to penetrate the Administrative spaces at lower level. A light-weight, umbrella roof shelters both internal and external spaces, pierced by the protruding extension of the Debating Chamber. A large circular space at the front of the building, the Chamber is defined by the dramatic roof which is drawn down from the roof above to form the enclosure to the deck above. The Assembly also includes exhibition and education spaces, a café, crèche, committee and meeting rooms, press facilities, offices for the principal officers of the Assembly and a Members’ lounge. The servicing strategy responds to the varying demands of the internal spaces– air-conditioning is supplied in the debating chamber, while the public lobby is naturally ventilated. In this way, the design achieves significant energy savings compared to traditional buildings. Hard and soft landscaping, altogether with a canopy of trees, creates a closure for the Assembly. The author also proposes a poetry and art workshop, to create messages of goodwill, perhaps in the various languages and arts which altogether resembles India. The best will be chosen, for etching onto one side of the Wall. In its other guise of the Serpent stretched out wall along the ground, our hosts will be invited to read and touch these messages, whilst their own work and performances will be displayed on the Wall. The thing which author like the most in this project apart from the umbrella roof and deck is the seating at variable heights and colour coded orientation at each level.

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Architecture Student Chronicles

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

Guidelines for assessment for a final thesis project.

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

• The mental attitude of a student, how much of studentship does he maintain.
• His understanding of Architecture and his capacity to portray his ideas in visual/graphic/oral form.
• Level of curiosity translated in terms of his grasp of the ‘process of research’. Searching the past and the present in terms of ideas.
•  The importance of History cannot be stressed more. The ability to read, write and draw the level of confidence required to initiate a study, the ability to discuss the necessary information from amongst a plethora of literature and knowledge, to define the limitations without getting lost in the world of information.
• To direct his ideas and knowledge for the betterment of communities and society at large. We are not supposed to, nor should we try to, be designing for exotic locations. Our orientation should be our own nation and from there on define the locality and the community.
• You would be designing for an American/British/Indian Climate with all the accompanying factors of Economic, Political, social, legal, environmental and cultural. So try to design and improve your own living conditions through indigenous materials, methods and designs suited to the your region of study.
• To get away from the “Drafting Board” style of designing in two dimensional sterility. Architecture is not for a visual sense alone and that too on a drawing board minus the experience of space.
• Architectural Design apart from its visual experience has to cater to other senses of touch. Sound and smell also. Most of our Architectural experience is tactile (sense of touch) and yet we hardly consider it in our designs.
• For example:
• The Acoustical effects of the Golconda Fort is a fine example of catering to the delights of sound inspite of all its rugged construction. The fragrance of “Night queen” plant, Holy Basil plant, the Rose have their place in our traditions and yet we never care for our nasal promoters.

Form/Texture/color are inseparable in Architecture and so are painting, sculpture and Architecture.

• It is the fusion of the above that gives rise to the mind to keep it thinking. So produce an Architecture that would have some sensory appeal.
• Finally, your final presentation should be good. The drawings should be self explanatory requiring few words to explain rather than haranguing long sermons over bad presentations.
• You should consider the examiners as your client and you should be confident about your work.

 “A good architectural solution is one which is rich in spatial experience.” Huge, bland and monotonous spaces and facades are to be avoided. “Modernism has reduced every aspect of Architecture into function and efficiency”.

• Understanding of Architectural compositions is very much needed to make a good design.
• Western secularism strips everything of its essentials to the bare minimum. Study various Architectural styles , how they have evolved and given a new shape to Architecture. History is the key.

Final Presentations (Thesis Project)

• A portfolio of Drawings – To include what and in what order
• A Report – Layout of a report – contents
• Audio Visual Aids – Slides/photographs etc. to be arranged in order.
• Viva-voce – A loud voice, a confident stance, guided by clear thinking. Assuming your examiners to be your clients. You have already understood the subject and your clients need to be explained to. Look straight into the eyes of the examiner and talk – your confidence will tend to cover up minor mistakes.

In our next article, we shall discuss about “ How to select a Thesis Topic ”. I am sure many of you would be curious to figure that out.

We shall also discuss;

• Defining Limitations for a Thesis Project
• Design Process to carry out a Thesis Project

1 thought on “How to work on a Thesis Project? | Final Year Architectural Thesis”

I am an Educator I am lecturing in one of the Institution and also doing my Research thesis Could I get updated information for educational purpose and professional practice to practice my career, thank you so much

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Theses and Dissertations

View all past theses and dissertations on DSpace@MIT .

Theses and Dissertations in HTC

Thesis and Dissertations in HTC

https://architecture.mit.edu/history-theory-criticism

Dezeen Magazine dezeen-logo dezeen-logo

Texas A&M University presents ten architecture student projects

Dezeen School Shows: a winery  in California , USA, which uses sustainable systems is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Texas A&M University.

Also featured is a project that integrates the use of generative AI in architecture and emergency housing design to mitigate flooding .

Texas A&M University

Institution: Texas A&M University School: Department of Architecture Course: Master Architecture (Year 2) Tutors: Benjamin Ennemoser, Alejandro Borges, Weiling He, Livia Louretro, Davi Xavier, James Michael Tate, Peter Massin, Fabrizio Aimar, Marcel Erminy, Ray Holliday, Marcelo López-Dinardi, Dr Stephen Caffey, Dr David Reed and Brian Gibbs

School statement:

"As part of a vibrant academic community, the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M University is deeply committed to shaping the future of architecture through innovative education, cutting-edge research and strong professional partnerships.

"Our graduates leave ready to enter the field and lead it, equipped with the skills and knowledge to make a lasting impact on the built environment.

"From the Bachelor of Science in Architecture to the PhD in Architecture, our curriculum emphasises critical thinking, design innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

"Direct connections with industry leaders enrich our programs through initiatives, with our specialised centres strengthening these connections, including the Centre for Health Systems and Design, the Centre for Heritage Conservation and the CRS Centre for Leadership and Management in the Design and Construction Industry.

"With by a computation and technology-driven curriculum, students can participate in the Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure program, significantly reducing the time needed to become a licensed architect. The program's emphasis on collaboration, problem-solving and global perspectives further prepares graduates for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

"The NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture program continues this trajectory, integrating ecological, technological and social contexts into the design process, enabling students to tackle contemporary challenges in architecture from sustainable design to heritage conservation.

"For those interested in research and academic careers, the MS in Architecture and PhD in Architecture programs offer a research-based approach to architectural studies, encouraging the exploration of topics such as design computation, digital fabrication, sustainability and more, often in collaboration with our research centres.

"Our students also have the exciting opportunity to enhance their global perspectives through study abroad experiences in Florence, Italy and Barcelona, Spain. These experiences, coupled with internships, provide an immersive, practical experience that bridges academic learning with professional practice, preparing our students for a truly global career in architecture."

First Year Studios by Caroline Barry, Jordyn Redden and Ethan Garcia

"This design studio focuses on developing students' ability to understand and visualise space, challenging preconceived notions of architecture.

"Through a series of exercises, the studio introduces students to the basic principles of spatial composition, the concepts of poche and figure-ground relationships.

"The studio also emphasises the concept of research in architecture, focusing on an analogue and spatial understanding of architectural artefacts and their graphical representation.

"The sequence of exercises frames the design process, moving from abstract and ideal concepts to those that are contextually and programmatically specific.

"The final project introduces the primary functional conditions of architectural assemblage, addressing place, scale, tectonic elements and spatial organisation, interpreted as generators of architectural and urban space."

Students: Caroline Barry, Jordyn Redden and Ethan Garcia Course: BS Architecture (Year 1) Tutors: Alejandro Borges, Weiling He, Livia Louretro and Davi Xavier

SuperCharge by Thomas Huizar, Valentin Giles and Jake Taylor

"The SuperCharge 406 design studio is a platform where students demonstrate their dedication to learning and growth, with a crucial integration of generative AI in architecture.

"Students use the AI tools based on large language and diffusion models to explore architectural design, programming and conceptual frameworks, to design a multifunctional project which integrates an electric vehicle supercharging station and a high-speed train hub in College Station, Texas.

"By leveraging generative AI, students reimagine mobility norms, architectural programs and contemporary aesthetics, incorporating additional programmatic features.

"Through these explorations, each team challenges conventional norms and explores mixed-use typologies through the lens of AI.

"Building on advancements in robotics, AI, big data and the fourth industrial revolution, the studio speculates on new architectural design processes."

Student: Thomas Huizar, Valentin Giles and Jake Taylor Course: BS Architecture (Year 4) Tutors: Benjamin Ennemoser

Timber, Wooden Architecture by Ethan Hajdik, Addison Henson and Jade Radford

"Arch 206 – architectural design II introduces students to materials as creative and generative tools in design, focusing on intermediate-scale housing, emphasising timber and wooden architecture.

"The first half of the semester familiarises students with using wood in building design across various contexts, including introducing the relationship between forests and buildings, considering species, resource management and sustainability.

"Students explore timber as both a structural and cladding element, studying its material properties and aesthetic qualities through vernacular and architect-designed examples, whilst also studying its historical use, the industrial production of dimensional lumber and plywood and the development of engineered wood products and mass timber systems.

"This study culminates in a charette, which encourages a creative exploration of wood products and construction systems at a residential scale, and in the second half of the semester, students build on their research by engaging with Austin's proposed 'home initiative,' which would allow up to three housing units on single-family lots.

"Using a co-creation model, teams iterate on their initial designs, developing a kit of parts strategy adaptable to various site conditions and are encouraged to reimagine timber systems, combining heavy, light and mass timber to inspire contemporary timber architecture."

Students: Ethan Hajdik, Addison Henson and Jade Radford Course: BS Architecture (Year 2) Tutor: James Michael Tate

Aesthetics of Dystopia by Larane Orsak

"Dystopia refers to fictional societies marked by oppressive and nightmarish conditions, in contrast to utopias, which depict ideal societies.

"While dystopian aesthetics often convey suffering and repression, designers and architects have found inspiration in the visual and conceptual aspects of these worlds for its offer of rich urban design strategies.

"Reassembly focuses on sustainable strategies for reusing existing buildings and materials which are essential for achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals in architecture.

"In this design studio, students explore reassembly strategies that use digital tools and fabrication methods to repurpose fragments of Houston's industrial plants into a mixed-use building near the city centre.

"The project emphasised sustainable design, with the final outcomes placing emphasis on the tectonic complexity and potential of reassembly in contemporary architecture."

Student: Larane Orsak Course: BS Architecture (Year 3) Tutors: Peter Massin

Design for Climate Change by Mohammed Shahadat Hossain

"The studio focuses on designing a community centre to address flood risks by combining research and practice-based design approaches.

"Students begin with a SWOT analysis of four selected neighbourhoods in Greater Houston, Texas, proposing resilient strategies to mitigate climate change risks at neighbourhood and building levels.

"The designed building incorporates functions such as emergency preparedness, temporary housing, offices and emergency vehicle shelters, all while emphasising energy and construction sustainability.

"The key to the project's success is the well-defined private spaces that represent the values of AI4ALL and the building's ground condition and posture.

"Throughout the design process, AI is employed as a collaborator and partner, helping to navigate and integrate the various design constraints – this approach ensures that the community centre is functional, sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change risks."

Student: Mohammed Shahadat Hossain Course: Master Architecture (Year 1) Tutors: Fabrizio Aimar

Architecture Integrated Studio by Ekaansh Kalra and Aidan Lozano

"The Architecture Integrated Studio is a pivotal part of architectural education, where students learn to synthesise various design aspects into a cohesive whole.

"Building on previous coursework, the integrated design studio combines structural systems, building assemblies and environmental responses with strong design considerations.

"It integrates research methods to prepare students for application to the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree.

"This holistic approach enables students to consider the broader implications of their design decisions, creating aesthetically pleasing, structurally sound, functionally efficient and environmentally responsive buildings.

"The Architecture Integrated Studio is essential in teaching students to think conceptually, critically and sustainably while fostering effective collaboration."

Students: Ekaansh Kalra and Aidan Lozano Course: BS Architecture (Year 4) Tutors: Marcel Erminy

Sustainable Winery by Andrew Koltys and Christian Martinez

"In this course, students develop the ability to generate integrated architectural solutions focusing on net zero sustainability, that achieve performance characteristics outlined by the AIA 2030 mandate.

"The design project centres on creating a sustainable winery in Napa Valley, California, incorporating key architectural components such as envelopes, assemblies, structural and mechanical systems and life safety systems to achieve a cohesive and resolved architectural project that integrates these elements seamlessly.

"Students choose between two sites: Frogs Leap Winery, which has flat terrain, or Odette Estate Winery, which has varied terrain, to design a new winery complex in line with the site's existing conditions with an innovative use of materials.

"The project requires at least one two-storey structure with two sets of stairs and one elevator in order to meet all ADA and code requirements.

"The assignment emphasises the connections between architecture, people and landscape, and by the end of the course, students will have developed skills in creating sustainable architectural designs that celebrate the relationship between the built environment and its natural context."

Student: Andrew Koltys and Christian Martinez Course: Master Architecture (Year 2) Tutor: Ray Holliday

Transforming the Hot Wells Bathhouse into the Hot Wells Culture and Ecology Centre by Mia Hendershot

"The Hot Wells Bathhouse, once a bustling destination in the early 19th century, now stands as a unique intersection between humanity and nature, leaving the historic site in ruins.

"In its abandonment, nature began to reclaim the old building as its own, a process known as secondary succession.

"The ruins are now home to a unique ecosystem that bridges the ecology of the San Antonio River with the primitive flora that dominates the crumbling walls of the old bathhouse.

"This combination of anthropology and ecology informed the building program and design, forming a destination upon the riverbanks with a landscape that shares the narrative of its past for locals and tourists alike.

"The resulting project takes form as a place that not preserves the past and contributes to the community, providing a space for exploration, learning and gathering, whilst crucially acknowledging the ebb and flow between people and nature and offering a wealth of educational opportunities, spanning topics from the history of the site to the unique ecosystem it hosts."

Student: Mia Hendershot Course: Master Architecture (Year 2) Tutors: Dr Stephen Caffey, Dr David Reed, Brian Gibbs and Marcel Erminy

AI-Techno Chapel by Alina Torres, Dylan Love and Alexandra Morabito

"Students utilise AI tools like diffusion models to generate new designs for a small-scale chapel in Austin, Texas, reinterpreting the chapel as a traditional Texas typology and incorporating 500 years of architectural history and theory.

"The design process combines of manual and computational techniques, accompanied with a field trip to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to explore chapel precedents and civic buildings that reflect key architectural periods and movements."

Students: Alina Torres, Dylan Love and Alexandra Morabito Course: BS Architecture (Year 2) Tutors: Benjamin Ennemoser

Architecture from Public to Commons by Justin Gill

"The Post Oak Mall in College Station, Texas has decreased in attendance and each year the mall finds less foot travel than years prior.

"To support the growing population of students and the university as a whole, we are proposing to convert Post Oak Mall into an auxiliary campus for students in agriculture, technology, engineering and arts specific degree programs.

"The reduction of climate-controlled spaces within the mall's buildings allowed us to incorporate greenhouse-like infrastructure directly into the buildings."

Student: Justin Gill Course: BS Architecture (Year 3) Tutors: Marcelo López-Dinardi

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Texas A&M University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here .

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