The thesis design project provides the opportunity for final year students to demonstrate their ability to pursue an independent and coherent line of investigation leading to either an architectural or urban design study. Thesis projects are an outcome of rigorous research by design process. As such should demonstrate an understanding and positioning their discourse in a wider cultural context. Projects should also meet and challenge current professional standards in their technical resolution. Successful design explorations should address and can question current ethical, life safety, environmental mitigation formulas.
Thesis projects need to give evidence of their potential environmental, social, economic, legal, political viability and sustainability in the era of climate emergency
Students will demonstrate their ability to systematically develop an architectural/urban design agenda; pursue a coherent line of investigation; and undertake a range of complex design-based i nvestigations leading to a comprehensive visual, written, and oral presentation. The work will be placed within a wider cultural context that identifies the key technical, environmental, and social implications of their project.

(LO1) Ability to demonstrate the systematic development of an architectural/urban design project to a sophisticated level commensurate with undergraduate masters level in a professionally accredited programme.

(LO2) Ability to assess the architectural/ urban relevance (agency of architecture) of their project and build a discourse within the wider cultural context.

(LO3) Ability to identify the complex historical, social, legal and procurement implications of their project and addressed these issues in terms of planning and the detailed resolution of the building or urban/ territorial design.

(LO4) Ability to identify the key environmental, structural and constructional implications of their project and addressed these issues in terms of planning and the detailed resolution of the building or urban/ territorial design.

(LO5) Ability to strategically advocate for design opportunities/ solutions relevant for the topic and targeting specific stakeholders

(S1) Communication skills- tools of advocacy: (physical (installation, graphic design etc..);digital (website building, social media strategy) and oral presentation.

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Creative thinking.

Thesis design process subverts aspects of a regular design project. It tests a hypothetic assumption and by definition speculative. In this sense, the:
1. context/ problem/ phenomena
- is the field where the topic of the thesis exists.
2. typology/ building/ artefact
- is a device to investigate the idea
3. site(s)
- is a testing ground for the hypothesis
4.design brief
-is a plan to prove (or disprove) the hypothesis
5. design process
-operations to test the limits of the hypothesis

The design process is supervised by expert thesis tutors, representing LSA research strands this year. The projects are aided by environmental and structural tutorials expanding on various aspects of sustainability in relation to the design project. This will be concluded in the form of Sustainability and Equity Report (Arch524) which outlines a strategy for sustainability, testing the designs’, societal, economic, environmental, political, or legal impact where relevant. It will be concluded as a technical appendix to the design project. (For more see brief for Arch524(Four design reviews with expert panels of reviewers from various design and academic backgrounds will ensure the continuity of feedback
The topic must be explored in depth, both in respect of the wider critical and cultural context historic in which it is placed including the legislative and economic framework, and any technical, environmental and social and political issues involved. It will consist of an architectural/urban design project pursued as a coherent line of investigation from briefing analysis through to comprehensive design drawings.
Implications of the project will be addressed as will the planning and detailed resolution of relevant the building, urban infrastructure, or landscape. A series of open presentations will be scheduled at which students will present their project by stages succinctly encompassing the principle briefing and desig n features of their design project so that their level of control over the process is clearly demonstrated.
The Thesis Design Project will be presented primarily in graphic form including appropriate drawings, montages, digital and physical models and defended orally before a critical jury (and in interview with one of our external examiners).
The thesis design process consists of the following five phases
Phase 1 Hypothesis, Design Brief Draft

Phase 2 Design Tests, in context

Phase 3 Definition Phase

Phase 4 Final Design, Critical Reflection Phase

Phase 5 Exhibition Design Phase

Teaching Method 1 - Seminars and Reviews
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Seminars Description: The studio will include reading seminars workshops introducing key topics in the module. Punctual lectures and presentations will be given by tutors, guest or students. These will be followed by a seminar session.
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Students will be directed to reading lists and additional sources and information on Canvas and other digital online material.
Review Description: The studio will include two critique sessions with external reviewers. These sessions will help analyse the students’ proposals; students’ presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Students will be encouraged to keep track of comments and follow up with discussions with their peers.

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Description: Most weekl y sessions through the semester will be structured as tutorials. The one- and a half hour session will be formatted as workshops, in which the students will discuss their project and presentation, including topics, methods, locations and other related issues. One of these workshops might include a visit to a selected site inside or outside the UK (depending on circumstances). In addition, professional experts will be invited to discuss real-world related cases/issues with the students in some of these workshops. Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Students will be directed to reading lists and additional sources and information on Canvas and other digital online material. Students will be encouraged to choose and develop their own case studies for the coursework and presentation.

The majority of teaching will be delivered face to face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on-campus delivery and where technology affords a better learn ing experience.