Dissertation Options

The dissertation module is one of the strong points of KSAP and has traditionally produced outcomes recognised as outstanding by our external examiners. This is an important recognition because it shows that we are amongst the best schools in teaching our students critical thinking and analytical skills. The module’s brief gives students the freedom to choose a topic to investigate within or outside our discipline-specific areas, enabling them to deepen an understanding of issues to which they are particularly attracted. Typically, even with unconventional topics, in their investigation students can identify links with architecture.

Dissertation is about research and refining research skills, which are skills that are essential in the architectural profession. Through research, the evidence base necessary for practitioners to successfully justify design ideas can be developed. Research also enables the organisation of research findings in a clear and structured way, which is easy to communicate. Indeed, the process of writing a dissertation bears similarities with that of design development: both are carried out in a structured way, following a sequence that articulates complex concepts, elaborates them and reaches a conclusion.

This year, as in past years, we had a wide range of topics investigated with dissertations. One topic explored the possibility of establishing colonies on Mars, looking at resource availability, appropriate technologies and also psychological aspects that must be considered when designing a settlement on that planet. Another one investigated the potential for London to increase its ‘sponginess’ by augmenting its green infrastructure, retrofitting central streets with rain gardens. A study in residential design investigated the characteristics that would be appropriate for the psychology of adults with autism. Finally, a study looked at the representation of architecture and its symbolism in Japanese animated movies.

In this module students can choose the artefact option, which offers the possibility to research by making. Artefact is not only about producing an object but rather solving a problem or answering a research question by design. The artefact becomes an opportunity to capture in a model, installation or any other form of visualisation and form creation some key reflections on a particular topic. Clearly, model-making, which is so important in the architectural profession, is one of the most common ways for students to assemble and deliver the final artefact, although not the only one.

Over the last years, students have designed installations, films and digital artefacts. This year too, students demonstrated great variety in the topic selected, coupled with fantastic maker skills. A student retrofitted a land rover transforming it into a camper van, while meticulously documenting all phases of work. Another artefact attempted the ambitious design of a modular sea wall that can act as wave breaker and at the same time increase the local marine biodiversity.