The Project Report is prepared in conjunction with a major piece of design or research work (which is the Thesis Design project for all MArch students) and aims to summarise the architectural and intellectual content of a project. Therefore, requires the student to demonstrate the:

Structure and content of the contextual and focused research methodology;

Coherent development of a project;

Comprehensive strategies for the environmental, social, legal issues raised;

Clear identification of the main structural and constructional strategies needed;

The ability to understand and articulate a full range of architectural design issues. 

(LO1) The ability to communicate in a written report the coherent development of a project/study the design thesis.

(LO2) The ability to communicate in a written report the comprehensive strategies for the historical, social, legal and procurement issues raised by the design of the thesis.

(LO3) The ability to communicate in a written report the clear identification of the main environmental, structural and constructional strategies employed in the design of the thesis.

(S1) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice.

(S2) Time and project management - Personal organisation.

(S3) Research skills - All Information skills.

(S4) Personal attributes and qualities - Initiative.

(S5) Critical thinking and problem solving - Creative thinking.

This report requires the student to reflect upon the aims and outcomes of the Thesis Design Project, and to communicate this to others (internal juries and external examiners) by means of an illustrated piece of writing. The report should include the following:
• A clear articulation of the project’s objectives and questions. What question(s) were asked at the outset?
• Project drawings including site plan, sections, photographs and maps. If necessary diagrams may be included to assist comprehension of strategy.
• An evaluation of the key technical and environmental issues, together with a strategy for addressing them;
• Consideration of the historic, social, legal, regulatory and procurement context;
• An explanation of why the project has taken the chosen format (building, urban study, analytical study) and why this makes a useful contribution to architecture;
• A chronological account of events. How did the project evolve since inception?
• A conclusion, answering the questions posed at the outset. How does the response resolve/change/comment on the status quo.
Reports can vary in length dependent on the nature of the project and the size of the design team and contains both individual and group work (each forming 50% of the total mark). The report should contain all of the relevant visual material pertinent to the project, however, as design/presentation work may continue after submission date it is acceptable if visuals are at a less detailed stage of completion than proposed for the final thesis submission.

Reports should be compiled in a way that allows external examiners to easily understand the relationship between your visual material and the text.

Your project report is a very important part of your overall final submission. It is a means for you to reflect upon your project and to communicate it as an illustrated pi ece of writing to others. This will be your first introduction to your external examiner. Take care over the report and use its preparation as a way of checking that you have covered the crucial areas in your thesis design. You are strongly advised to make use of the School dissertation preparation handbook as a method for ensuring grammar, written style, use of references are appropriate. As with the dissertation, please make sure that you check it carefully for typographic and spelling errors before submitting. The report should be submitted digitally via VITAL. A4 portrait is the normal size and format of the document and any other should only be considered if there are exceptional circumstances (and be agreed with your tutor in advance). One paper copy should also form part of your Thesis Design Submission.

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description:
Attendance Recorded:Yes
Notes: seminar(s) conducted at beginning of module

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: tutorials with thesis (ARCH511) tutors