Republic of the Philippines

TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & FINE ARTS
San Isidro Campus, Tarlac City
A.Y. 2026-2027

Architectural Design 09 GROUP NUMBER: ___________

ArD 9 Form 001: Topic Development & Problem Analysis Workbook

Purpose
This workbook guides students through the systematic development of an architectural thesis topic. It is designed to help
students identify a researchable architectural problem, establish its relevance through literature and supporting evidence,
and determine whether the proposed study is feasible within the scope of an undergraduate architectural thesis.

Content
Students shall complete the required literature review, research gap identification, problem analysis, and feasibility
assessment activities. The output generated through this workbook shall serve as the basis for class adviser/coordinator
review and subsequent endorsement by faculty consultants. Completion of this workbook does not constitute approval of
a thesis topic but demonstrates readiness for evaluation under the prescribed thesis development process.

STUDENT INFORMATION DATE SUBMITTED: _____________

NAME/s: CLASS ADVISER: ________________________________
THESIS ADVISER: _______________________________

TOPIC SUMMARY (fill this sheet after accomplishing the whole workbook)

Item Details

Architectural Focus Area

Research Gap

Core Architectural Problem

Proposed Building/Facility

Target Users

Proposed Municipality/City

Proposed Site (if known)

Working Thesis Title

SUBMISSION VERSION:
☐ Initial Submission
☐ Revision 1
☐ Revision 2
☐ Revision 3

Received by:

Input name
________________________________

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 Class Adviser / Coordinator

Signature: _________________________
Date: _____________________________

PART A: TOPIC DISCOVERY & LITERATURE REVIEW

Objective: Select a general architectural topic, review ten related studies, and identify a clear
research gap to formulate a working thesis title.

1. Architectural Focus Area (General Topic Umbrella)

Choose one broad architectural field that genuinely interests your group.
Examples
☐ Healthcare Architecture
☐ Educational Architecture
☐ Heritage and Cultural Architecture
☐ Sustainable and Environmental Architecture
☐ Community Development
☐ Housing
☐ Transportation Facilities
☐ Sports and Recreation
☐ Hospitality and Tourism
☐ Commercial Development
☐ Institutional Architecture
☐ Others: ________________________

Why did your group choose this architectural focus area?

(Maximum 100 words.)

2. Preliminary Research Focus (Potential Research Topic)

Based on your chosen architectural focus area, identify one specific issue, building type, user group,
or context that you would like to explore. This is NOT your final thesis topic. It is only intended to guide
your literature search and may change after your review of related studies. (Maximum 50 words.)
Examples
● Accessibility of rehabilitation services in provincial communities

● Adaptive reuse of abandoned schools

● Learning environments for children with autism

● Climate-resilient public markets

● Community-based mental health facilities

● Heritage conservation of ancestral houses

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 Your Preliminary Research Focus:

3. Literature Review Matrix

Review at least 10 published research articles related to your topic. Summarize their core components below.
Author(s), Title, Year Research Key Findings Architectural Limitations
Problem/Objective Implications

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

4. Literature Synthesis
● Consensus: What do the studies agree on?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
● Divergence: What do they disagree on or see differently? / What issues remain debated or
unresolved?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
● Limitations: What problems or limitations do the authors mention?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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 ● Opportunities: What architectural opportunities did you identify?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Research Gap Statement
Write one paragraph summarizing the common findings, identifying what is underexplored, and clearly stating the gap your
research will address.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Architectural Justification
Explain why the identified problem requires an architectural intervention rather than solely policy, legislation, education, or
management.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Draft Thesis Title(s)
(Consider patterns: "Designing [building type] for [users/context]: [focus]" or "The impact of [design element] on [outcome] in
[location]") Maximum of 15 words.
Title 1:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Title 2:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Title 3:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

PART B: PROBLEM ANALYSIS & DESIGN FEASIBILITY

Objective: Analyze the causes and effects of your identified problem to verify if the draft title is valid,
solvable through architecture, and appropriately scoped.

1. Alignment to the Current Thesis Theme

(Describe how your proposal is connected to the theme)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Core Problem Statement

State the primary problem your thesis intends to address. ("State the primary architectural problem in one concise,
evidence-based statement.")

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder Role Needs/Concerns
(add rows to accommodate all
stakeholders)

4. Problem Analysis Matrix

Objective: Analyze the underlying causes of your identified problem and determine which aspects can realistically be
addressed through architectural design. Focus on the community or system causes of the problem—not merely the absence
of a building.

Community/System Root Cause Effect on Users or Community Architectural

Opportunity
(add rows as necessary)

(What factors cause the problem to exist? (How does the problem affect the target (What opportunity does
Consider social, environmental, economic, users or community?) architecture have to improve
institutional, or physical conditions.) the situation? Do not list
rooms yet—identify the
architectural direction.)

Example:
Problem: Lack of access to mental health services.
Community/System Root Cause Effect Architectural Opportunity

Mental health services are concentrated in Residents travel long Develop accessible community-based
urban hospitals. distances for treatment. mental health facilities.

Existing facilities provide only consultation Patients receive limited Integrate spaces for therapy,
services. therapeutic support. rehabilitation, and wellness.

5. Architectural Responses Mapping

Objective: Translate each architectural opportunity identified above into potential architectural interventions. This is not
your final building program; it simply demonstrates how architecture may respond to the identified problem.
Architectural Proposed Space or Design Purpose Remarks
Opportunity Strategy
(add rows as necessary)

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 (From the previous table) (Examples: healing garden, flexible (Explain how the (Optional notes,
therapy rooms, public education intervention addresses standards, or design
space, passive cooling strategy, the problem.) considerations.)
mixed-use community hub, etc.)

Example:
Architectural Opportunity Proposed Space / Purpose Remarks
Strategy

Community-based mental Counseling Rooms Provide private consultation Sound insulation

health care spaces required

Therapeutic environments Healing Garden Reduce stress and promote Incorporate biophilic
recovery design

6. Supporting Evidence
Provide evidence demonstrating that the identified problem exists and warrants architectural intervention. Evidence may
include:
● Government reports

● CLUP/CDP

● PSA Statistics

● DOH Reports

● DepEd Reports

● NGO reports

● Institutional needs assessments

● Stakeholder interviews

● Letters of support

Source Evidence Provided

7. Final Feasibility Check

Place a in the appropriate box. (If you have two or more "NO" answers, you must refine and narrow your core problem
before submitting.)

Question Yes No

Is the proposal aligned with the theme? ☐ ☐

Is the problem supported by literature? ☐ ☐

Is the problem supported by evidence? ☐ ☐

Can architecture realistically address the problem? ☐ ☐

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 Question Yes No

Is the proposal aligned with the theme? ☐ ☐

Is there an identifiable target user group? ☐ ☐

Can the project be completed within one undergraduate thesis? ☐ ☐

Is there a potential site or locality? ☐ ☐

Is the project socially relevant? ☐ ☐

Does the proposal have potential stakeholders or beneficiaries? ☐ ☐

STUDENT DECLARATION

We certify that the information contained in this workbook is based on our own literature review,
analysis, and evaluation and is submitted for academic review.

Student Representative Signature: __________________________

Date: __________________________

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