Department:

Synthesis of Architectural Design

Course Leader:

conf.dr.arh. Magdalena Stănculescu

Teaching language:

Romanian

Learning outcomes:

The diploma project - part of the curriculum of the 2nd semester of the final year - pursues the architectural development of the principles of intervention based on the Study of diploma foundation, and the correlated interpretation of different categories of analyzes related to the site, considering the specific architectural program. The objective is to define the architectural proposal, progressively pursuing an increasingly greater degree of detail and thus preparing the diploma project - part of the graduation exam (Diploma Project and Dissertation) - what will be evaluated in July 2025 by the committees established in accordance with the regulations of the graduation exam.

Content:

It is recommended to approach current architectural themes and programs, realistic in type and complexity. The chosen site should allow the elaboration of a complex urbanistic multicriteria analysis and a set of operational conclusions that illustrate the student's ability to analyze and synthesize restrictions and permissiveness, for coherent foundation of the project concept. It is advised to avoid large surface area sites and large-scale themes, which overcome by complexity the attributes of a diploma project thus preventing students from controling and integrating them effectively and deeply. It is forbidden to choose a topic / site that was part of a project / study of the previous curricula completed by the student. The tutors and the students, are responsible for the fulfillment of these goals.

In the PRE-DIPLOMA stage - before the committees established at the level of the Architecture Design Synthesis Department, on 16 and 17 April 2025 - the following will be presented mandatory:

• illustrative research of the proposed site (current photographic / iconographic materials and, archival materials when necessary);
• the synthesis of the multi-criteria urban analysis of the site and the operational conclusions (elements of urban regulations);
• illustration of the concept and the architectural program (definition of the essential characteristics of the program and the proposal);
• the theme of the project, accompanied by a synthetic presentation of theoretical references and architectural precedents;
• the model of the proposal, illustrating the built volumes and the integration in context (on a scale appropriate to the extent of the theme, at the student's choice).


The relationship with previous disciplines / phases

In relation to the elements studied and presented in the Study of diploma foundation (discipline of the first semester), the following will be considered:
• critical analysis of the topic data, resulting from the Study of diploma foundation project and generating the design of the final project theme;
• critical analysis and operational conclusions for the definition of the concept of the future project, resulting from the multi-criteria analyzes carried out in the framework of the Study of diploma foundation;
• critical analysis of the urban planning regulations proposed within the Study of diploma foundation.

Elements / pieces needed in the pre-diploma phase

The pre-diploma project will address at least one version of the architectural intervention proposal, which will be detailed as following:

• illustrative research of the proposed site (current photographic / iconographic materials and, archival materials when necessary);
• all necessary pieces to understand the proposed architectural intervention: diagrams (with the graphic expression of the architectural-urban idea, as a result of the multicriteria analyzes), plans, sections, layouts, on a scale that allows the understanding of the architectural intentions (1:1000, 1:500, 1:200);
• general technical-economic data;
• the layout of the proposal, illustrating the built volumes and the integration in context, at a scale appropriate to the scope of the subject (1:500, 1:1000, 1:2000, 1:5000);
• other pieces that can contribute to a better understanding of the project's approach and idea.

The project delivery will be done on A3 or A2 format sheets, bound in a folder. On the cover will be mentioned the student's name, matriculation number, as well as the name of the tutor, with the minimum teaching degree of lecturer .

The title of the project will remain normally the same as that established in the Study of diploma foundation. Any changes are possible following the committee's recommendations from this phase or following the natural evolution of the study in the February-April 2025 period, on condition that the student provides adequate arguments and changes are accepted by the pre-diploma committee. The title must include the name of the place where the project is located.

Note: In the case of interventions in protected areas or in the protection areas of historical monuments, for the correct orientation to the most suitable sources of information, students are recommended to consult the teaching staff of the Department of History and Theory of Architecture and Heritage Conservation.

Assessment:

The Diploma project development discipline includes two assessment components:

A) Jury in the committees established at the level of the Architectural Design Synthesis Department of the project in the PRE-DIPLOMA phase - representing 80% of the final mark of the discipline. The jury committees (usually the same as for the Study of diploma foundation) will be formed by 4 teaching staff, with the minimum teaching degree of lecturer, who will analyze and grade the papers submitted by the students. The presentation of the project before the committee is mandatory. The committee grade is the arithmetic average, without rounding, to two decimal places, of the grades awarded by the members of the judging committee, each of them awarding a whole grade or a decimal grade.

B) The grade awarded by the teaching staff during the 14th week of semester 2, which will evaluate the entire project development process throughout the semester - representing 20% ​​of the final grade of the subject.

The condition for passing the subject is obtaining, following the calculation (without rounding) of the average, a minimum grade of 5.00 (five). Each of the A and B components must be at least 5.00 in order to proceed with the calculation of the average. Otherwise, the discipline will be redone, by way of derogation from the General Regulation on design activity, in the exam session of September 2025 (with both components, A and B).

Assessment criteria

The assessment will be conducted according to the principles as established by the General Regulation on design activity, considering the following criteria:

• the coherence of the operational conclusions set on the basis of the Study of diploma foundation and the way in which they are developed through the design theme;
• the contextual sensitivity of the architectural proposal;
• the realism and quality of the scenario and functional circuits proposed by the project;
• the conceptual and spatial-compositional clarity of the architectural proposal;
• the coherence and expressiveness of the graphic presentation;
• the quality of oral arguments before the committees.


Further elaboration

The recommendations regarding the evolution of the projects are sent to the students by the secretaries of each committees, in electronic format, until April 30, 2025.