This document provides the brief for Project 1a of the Architectural Design Project studio course. Project 1a involves pre-design analysis for a proposed architectural design project. Students must analyze the site context, user needs, precedents, and regulatory requirements to develop a program brief and 10-15 minute multimedia presentation. The objectives are to formulate a program brief and conduct contextual and user analysis. Students will analyze the site, context, user group, cultural influences, and restrictions to inform their design approach. They must research precedents and comply with local guidelines. The expected output is a multimedia presentation covering site background, analysis, program brief, precedents, and user/regulatory research. The project will be assessed based on the quality

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECT [ARC60108]
Sustaining Humanities
Project 1a: Pre-Design Analysis
Assessments Type
Learning
outcomes
Marks Presentation Submission
Project 1a Group/Individual
1, 2 (refer
to MO)
10% Video/multimedia Week 3
Images: http://www.arch.nus.edu.sg/archive/student-achievements/mla_sila.html
Introduction
Architectural Design Project is a studio that forms the cap stone project for the Bachelors of
Science (Honours) Architecture programme, emphasizing on the broad theme of sustaining
humanities.
This module is a thematic studio based on the theme of “sustaining humanities’ architecture for
people, place and time. Designing for sustainability has been a fundamental issue for architects in
our time within global and regional contexts. In line with the current discourse on sustainability, It
upholds the believe that architecture can create better places, that architecture can affect society
and humanity, and that it can have a role in making a place civilized by making a community
more liveable.
Students are required to further develop the proposed design project given by the studio
supervisor that reflects the theme and finalize a programme that addresses the needs of the
required user group, as well as provides spaces that invite interaction with the surrounding
contextual conditions. In addition to the theme of sustaining humanities, the module focuses on
the development of students’ ability to integrate considerations of technology, environment and

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cultural context in architectural design and offers a platform for students to develop their own
position in developing their individual project.
To achieve this aim, the design project is divided into three main phases. This Project Brief is
developed for the first part (Project 1a) of the three-part assessment are as follows:
Objectives of Project
The objectives of this assignment are as follows:
1. Develop a simple brief for an architectural design project.
2. Conduct pre-design analyse to inform the design project.
Learning Outcomes of this Project
1. Formulate a simple brief that include appropriate architectural programme and planning
within a selected architectural context.
2. Analyse case studies to gain understanding of architectural responses and strategies of an
intentional design strategy to inform the design project.
3. Conduct contextual and user analysis in the pre-design phase.
Tasks - Methodology
Students are to further develop the studio design project and position in architecture. You should
begin with considering a position/topic in architectural design that you would like to explore,
guided by your supervisor (topics and project types to be selected from given).
Based on that, students are required to conduct and present the following pre-design analysis:
1. Studies of the contextual conditions of your site
2. Studies on your selected user group and building types
3. Studies on the cultural and meaning place.
4. Studies on the current restrictions and proposed development on site and how it will
affect the project and design.
5. Studies on precedents that inform the ideas/approach/strategies that can be used in
developing project and programme.
Based on your pre-design phase, develop a simple, brief and yet comprehensive presentation.
Presentation can be in a form of video, slide and others that can capture people, place and time
on the given site.

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Pre-design analysis,
Is where students will assemble all the parts and pieces of the bigger picture: 1.Reviewing building
code and local or city ordinance, 2. Initiative on establishing design parameters, 3. Take initiative
consider and study solar analysis and other site specific analysis, 4. Research on precedents or do
actual visitation to projects related and directly relevant to the proposal and 5. Research on
demography, user profile and understanding who we are designing for.
There are several guidelines that provide the scope of your proposed project as follows:
 3-5 stories/levels (basement car parking does not count).
 1800-2000 sq.mts. built up area (gross floor area).
 Proposals are to be taken from 3 suggester building typologies.
 Parking lot/layout (based on Uniform Building By-Laws and Local requirements).
 Compliance with city planning or local guidelines and requirements.
 Shall tackle and address the issue on site and look forward to aligning design addressing
the needs of the site and user.
Expected output and project requirements
Multimedia/digital presentation will include the following components:
a. Brief historical background of the site.
b. Site Analysis (macro to micro site analysis)
c. Project/Programme Brief (building type and function, requirements, users, etc.
d. Precedent Studies (programme-related)
e. User Analysis/User Study
f. Others (materials, specific regulations, issues & others)
Assessment Criteria
Marking Criteria
Marks%
FAIL
(F)
POOR
(D-,D,D+)
PASS
(C)
SATISFACTORY
(C+,B-)
GOOD
(B,B+)
VERYGOOD
(A-)
EXCELLENT
(A)
Marks
These will be assessed via the
following: 100
0-39
40-49
50-54
55-64
65-74
75-79
80-
100
Site Background & Study
Ability to understand place &
site, physical and non-physical
aspects (culture, tradition, etc.)
___/10

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Precedent/Case Studies
Ability to analyse Programme
related precedents. Which can
help understand building to site
relationship. Programme-related
___/10
Site contextual and user
analysis Ability to conduct
contextual and user analysis in
the pre-design phase.
___/30
Restrictions, Guidelines and
Regulatory Requirements
Research on UBBL and Local
Requirements which may affect
design. Current & Future Dev’t.
____/10
Project/Programme Brief
Ability to understand and
translate observations to
programme & project req’ts.
___/15%
Multi Media Presentation.
Ability to come up with a clear,
creative & organized
presentation
___/15
Peer Evaluation
(Individual Assessment)
___10
Assessment Weight : 10% ____/ 100 %
Note:
1. Rubric Assessment is attached to the Project 1a Assessment Sheet, refer to as page 2.
2. Peer evaluation form can be downloaded in the TIMeS portal or Facebook Group.
Suggested References
1. Clark, R. & Pause, M. 2012, Precedents in Architecture Analytical Diagrams, Formative Ideas
and Partis (4th
Ed.), Hoboken N.J: John
2. Lynch, K. 1979, Image Of The City. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press
3. Moraes Zarzar, K., 2003, Use and Adaptation of Precedents in Architectural Design, Delft
University Press
4. LaGro Jr.J.A.,2001 Site Analysis: linking program and concept in land planning and design,
New York: Wiley

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Timeline and Schedule
Week 1 : Briefing on architectural position
Site Visitation Documentation & data collection-
Journal- sketches, photo documentation, authority visit and others Site
visitation and documentation
Week 2 : Site Visitation Documentation Journal- sketches, photo documentation
. Working on Multi-media presentation
Week 3 : Finalization of programme, analysis and presentation
Final Submission and Presentation:
Project 1a: Pre-Design Analysis
Note : Refer to module outline for the detailed activities, tutorials and suggested reference and readings.
Submission Date and Guidelines
Submission DUE : Thursday, 14th of September 2017 (Week 3)
Note:
1. Video or Presentation should be within 10-15 minutes only.
2. Group Leader to submit softcopy to architectprinceisip@gmail.com
3. Peer Assessment to be compiled by group leader and forward to me before 7:00 pm.
4. All information presented must have proper referencing.
Prepared by: Approved by:
Prince Favis Isip Mohd Adib Ramli
……………………………. …………………………….
Date: 24/8/2017 Date: 25/8/2017
Stream Coordinator Programme Director
(Design Studies)
Email: princefavis.isip@taylors.edu.my
Remarks:
1. The Project Brief is to be distributed to the students in the first week of the semester.
2. Any changes to the Project Brief shall be communicated (in writing) to the Programme
Director and the approved revised version must be communicated to the students