Course detail

Elaboration of Master´s Thesis M2 – Design of Buildings

FA-DP2-AEAcad. year: 2023/2024

In this course, students work on their architectural and urban design of their Master's thesis. The emphasis is placed on adequate theoretical explanation of the proposal as well – the diploma thesis must contain a written, theoretical and/or critical part, including the studied sources in scope determined by the assignment of the diploma thesis.
The module Design of Buildings deals with the issue of building design in all scales from urban planning to detail. The module is aimed mainly at the public and social component of urbanity and their improvement. The teaching methods in the module are focused on the holistic preparation of students for independent performance of the profession. The readiness and ability of creative and craft processing of architectural topics is verified on the scope defined in this way.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

30

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Michal Palaščak

Department

Department of Design (UN)

Entry knowledge

Not applicable.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

To complete the course successfully, students must submit the complete project on time and in accordance with the assignment and the internal regulations The Rules of Study at FA.
The particular requirements are specified in the assignment of the Master's thesis which the students receive in written form. The Master's thesis usually comprises:
  • theoretical part in scope specified in the thesis assignment
  • textual part
  • urban context
  • architectural and operational design
  • structural design
  • physical model

Mandatory participation at one consultation per week as specified by the supervisor and at the interim critiques. Mandatory submission of the project complying with the conditions specified in the assignment of the Master's thesis and meet the deadline (specified in the thesis assignment).
Upon the agreement with the teacher, the absences in the classroom can be compensated via online participation.

Aims

The aim of the course is to prepare the Master's project. By elaboration of the Master's project, students demonstrate the acquired skills, abilities and knowledge required by the graduate profile. Simultaneously, the Master's project adequately demonstrate student´s readiness to enter the architectural practice and the following levels of their professional training, namely attaining the Czech Chamber of Architects certification.
  • By elaboration and defense of their Master's thesis, students demonstrate their skills, abilities and knowledge required by the graduate profile.
  • By elaboration and defense of their Master's thesis, students demonstrate their readiness to enter the practice and and the following levels of their professional training, namely attaining the Czech Chamber of Architects certification.
  • By elaboration and defense of their Master's thesis, students demonstrate their ability to independently design architectural and operational building solutions for a whole range of requirements on operation, structure and/or urban design.
  • By elaboration and defense of their Master's thesis, students demonstrate their ability to apply all legal requirements and standards on the architectural/urban design.
  • By elaboration and defense of their Master's thesis, students demonstrate the ability to give adequate theoretical explanation of their proposal.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basic literature

ARCHITIZER. The World's Best Architecture. Phaidon Press, 2020. ISBN: 978-1838660666. (EN)
Česká architektura – Czech Architecture (series). Prague: Prostor, 1999-today. (EN)
DOUCET, Isabelle; JANSSENS, Nel (Eds.): Transdisciplinary Knowledge Production: Towards Hybrid Modes of Inquiry in Architecture and Urbanism. Zurich: Springer 2011. ISBN: 978-94-007-0103-8 (EN)
HAYS, Michael (Ed.) Architecture Theory Since 1968. Cambridge - MA: MIT Press, 1998. ISBN 978-0262581882. (EN)
IMHOF, Barbra; GRUBER, Petra (Eds.). Build to Grow. Zurich: Springer, 2016. (EN)
JODIDIO, Philip, ed. Public Architecture Now! Taschen, 2010. ISBN: 978-3836517324. (EN)
MALLGRAVE, Harry Francis. Architectural Theory: Volume I – An Anthology from Vitruvius to 1870. Oxford UK: Blackwell Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-1405102582. (EN)
NEUFERT, Ernst. Architects' Data. John Wiley & Sons, 2019. ISBN: 9781119284352. (EN)
NORBERG-SCHULZ, Christian. Genius loci. ELECTA ED., 1979. (EN)
PHAIDON, eds. The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture. Phaidon Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780714843124. (EN)
SIMON, Herbert A. The Sciences of the Artifitial. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1969. ISBN 978-0262691918. (EN)
THE PLAN. Sustainable Architecture. Promopress, 2017. ISBN: 9788416504206. (EN)

Recommended reading

Centre for Design Research (webpage). URL: http://designresearch.no (EN)
Vyhláška č. 268/2009 Sb., o technických požadavcích na stavby [Decree on Technical Requirements for Constructions]. In: Sbírka zákonů. ISSN 1211-1244. 2009. (CS)
Vyhláška č. 398/2009 Sb., o obecných technických požadavcích zabezpečujících bezbariérové užívání staveb [Decree on Technical Requirements for Accessible Buildings]. In: Sbírka zákonů. ISSN 1211-1244. 2009 (CS)
Vyhláška č. 501/2006 Sb., o obecných požadavcích na využívání území [Decree on Land Use Requirements]. In: Sbírka zákonů. ISSN 1211-1244. 2006. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme NE_A+U Master's

    specialization --- (till 2022) , 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Studio work

104 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Zuzanna Irena Mielczarek, MSc
Ing. arch. Radek Toman, Ph.D.
MArch Kacper Ignacy Kepiński

Syllabus

Semester block schedule:
  1. Analysis of the location and assignment, excursion, work on the concept
    Choice of critical, historiographic and/or research and theoretical focus of the work
    Work on the proposal of own imaging, analytical and interpretation tools and procedures: textual, architectural-visual and architectural-spatial
    Formulation of the main research question and secondary questions. Formulation of procedures, methods and research methodology for the diploma thesis. Formulation of the hypothesis and its verification
  2. Work on architectural, operational, structural and/or urban design
    Work on the theoretical part of the thesis
  3. Completion of the project and its text part
    Work on the project presentation