Posted in Thesis Project

Recycled OR New Modern Furniture?? | Sustainable Design

Step-wise procedure for conducting a research on Furniture Design

In this article, we will discuss the steps for carrying out a research on the proposed topic. This research will help us evaluate if the concept of recycled furniture is workable and whether it could be profitable as compared to the New modern furniture made from new materials.

Step One:

Study the process of making recycled furniture. This would include studying the materials for the furniture, the factories, the energy resources required for the manufacture, amount of skilled and unskilled labour and finally the costs.

Step two:

Where have they been used? Study the successful examples of the use of recycled furniture in various countries and analyse the reasons behind their success.

It is also important to consider the negative aspects of the same. It is important to know why people wouldn’t want to prefer recycled furniture and that should be very clear.

Dining Table | New Modern Furniture

Dining Table | New Modern Furniture

Step three:

Remember for any venture to become a success, it has to be profitable. If it is not, then nobody will care to pay attention towards it. This applies for both the consumer as well as the manufacturer.

Analysis of the profit and loss for a company manufacturing recycled materials for the furniture has to be done. It is important to know whether these run in loss or in profit which will give you an idea of  the interest that people show towards using recycled furniture.

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Design Stages for carrying out Thesis Project

Stages of Design to be followed in Architectural Thesis Project

In our earlier Thesis articles series, we discussed the following:

  1. Introduction to Thesis Project
  2. Guidelines for the assessment of the Final Project
  3. Thesis topic selection
  4. Selection and analysis of the site

 In this article, we will discuss various stages which you have to follow while carrying out your Architectural Thesis Project.

1. Key plan (Conceptual Master plan)

Preparation of a Master plan for your project is the first and foremost stage of design. Allocation of different structures, open spaces, road network has to be carefully done when designing the masterplan. It should comply with all the rules and regulations of the area.

2. Comprehensive Layout plan

3. Discussions and Delegations to be carried out including internal faculty, visiting faculty, professional architects, urban designers etc.

4. Design of Landscape

Landscape can be divided into two parts:

  1. Hard Landscape (street furniture design such as benches, railings, lampposts etc)
  2. Soft Landscape (Plants, Shrubs and trees)

A proper and efficient design of landscape also plays an important part in the justification of your design. The selection of trees to be used for your design has to be carefully done. Emphasis on the use of trees, plants and shrubs available locally.

Placement of plants, shrubs and trees in a pattern that would suit your design and the surroundings. This would increase the aesthetic appeal of the place.

5. Streetlighting (internal and external)

6. Connectivity to the city

Justify proper connectivity of your project site to the city. It is one of the important factors to be paid attention to while selecting the site and then designing.

a. Proximity to the Airport (important in this case)

b. Proximity to the Transportation Facilities

  • i. Roadways
  • ii. MMTS
  • iii. MRTS
  • iv. Highways

Site Selection and Analysis | Architectural Thesis

Site Analysis for Construction

Site Analysis is very important before we initiate our construction. Detailed study of site and its surroundings will help justify our design proposal. Detailed study of the site and surrounding areas of the site helps in designing the project efficiently.

Site Selection

A site is selected on the basis of the demand of the construction

An already existing site is taken, is analyzed and the kind of project to be proposed on that particular site is decided.

An empty site to be analyzed for construction

An empty site to be analyzed for construction

New Trend: Environmental Friendly or Green Building Construction

When analyzing the site, we also have to consider the impact of the structure on the surrounding environment. If the proposed structure would have any negative impact on the environment. In one of our earlier articles, we have discussed “Site selection” and “Site Analysis” with respect to the environmental impact.

Check it out:

Selection of a suitable site | Environmental Sustainability

Site Analysis and Development

Here are some of the steps to be followed for Site Analysis:

Google Maps

Locate your site on the google maps.

It will give you an idea of the:

Site contours

The connectivity to the main road and other sub roads

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Casestudy and Design Guide for Major Bus Terminal for a Large City

Casestudy, Analysis and Design Guide | Design Process of Major Bus Terminal for a Large City

Data Collection and Analysis

The site: Study and Analysis

  1. Map of the City showing all the Transportation routes and networks
  2. A Land survey of the exact boundaries
  3. A topographical Map of the site
  4. A Survey Map of all the Physical Elements on site such as Trees, Rocks, Peaks and Valleys, Water, Drainage, Electricity, High tension lines, low tension lines etc.
  5. A Visual survey of the Surrounding Areas
Casestudy and Design of Bus Terminal

Casestudy and Design of Bus Terminal

Building and Infrastructure – Study and Analysis

  • Surveys of the existing transportation Department
  • Size and Population of the City – A map
  • Size and capacity of the existing terminal
  • Maps showing existing traffic volumes and Travel Pattern
  • In state, Out of State, Types and categories of Buses etc.
  • Provision of Local Services
  • Support facilities, Workshops, Sheds, Service

Defining Limitations for a Thesis Project | Thesis Guidelines

How to define limitations for your thesis Project?

Earlier we have discussed the following:

  1. Introduction to Thesis Project
  2. Guidelines for the assessment of the Final Project
  3. Thesis topic selection

Now we shall move on with a discussion on “Defining Limitations for a Design Thesis”.

Once the topic has been selected, you have to define the extent of your work. There is a lot of information that exists regarding a particular topic and you cannot include all.

Urban Design Problem | Washington DC

Urban Design Problem | Washington DC

For example:

You chose to design a Mini-town. The project area spans upto 220 acres minimum for a project like this. So you have to be very well aware as to where you would limit the scope of the project.

In my opinion, for a Mini-town project, you would have to limit your scope upto Master planning level. Detailed concepts and Master plan would be the most important. After you are done with it and you have time left for the project deadline, you could design a few specific structures in the project that you want to give emphasis on.

Narrow down your requirements to specifics to help you define your limitations. Collect data which you really need.

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