Topic outline

  • Thesis seminar

    The pages of the Thesis seminar for ARK and SARK students. LAND students have their own pages: Diplomityökurssi - Maisema-arkkitehtuurin pääaine, jatkuva.

    No session on the 8th of September.

    Joint start of the Thesis Seminar course on 15.9. 

    15:15. Location: Rakentajanaukio 4, R1-160a.

    Image: Carl-Viggo Holmebakk, sight apparatus.

    The Thesis Seminar for Architecture and Interior Architecture is organized during the Fall term for students who are doing their Thesis already or are going to do it during the following Spring term. If you need the credits for the course during the Spring, it is possible to complete it independently. The guidelines for independent work can be found on the page Thesis Seminar Independent Work.

    The Thesis Seminar is a course aiming at helping you structure your thesis and your plan for getting it done - it is aimed at students who have an idea of their thesis topic, may have started already working with it, and aim at getting it ready during the next semester.

    You should have an idea of your topic and interests, but even if your ideas are quite unformed at the moment, during the seminar we will work together to develop a plan and framework for you to approach your topic and complete your thesis.

    The result of the course will be the Thesis Report that contains:

    • A (preliminary) abstract of your thesis, describing concisely the topic, your methods for approaching it, the structure of your thesis, and the results of your work.
    • A review of the context of your thesis, whether the focus is on a design (suitable references, etc.) or research (literature, etc.), or a combination of both.
    • A workplan and schedule for finishing your thesis.

    During the sessions, we will approach your topics through writing assignments, readings, and discussions.


    Location: we will meet on Fridays in the spaces R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4) and sometimes also in Q202, in Väre, unless otherwise stated in the schedule. The sessions should be all attended (unless otherwise stated) and session material will be posted on the MyCourses site.

    Time: the sessions always start at 15:15 and end at or before 17:00.

    Schedule (A: Assignments; R: Readings) - schedule subject to change. Fall Semester Thesis Presentations
    08.09. No session
    15.09. Joint Start session Thesis Seminar Course Kick-off R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4) 15:15-17:00
    22.09. Lecture: Start of Seminar - Doing your Thesis. A1. & A2. given. R1. given. The session will take place in R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4)
    29.09. No session
    06.10. Discussion: Thesis as Design / Research (based on A1. & R1.) R2. given. The session will take place in Q202 (Väre).
    09.10. Architecture and Interior Architecture Thesis presentations.
    10.10. Architecture and Interior Architecture Thesis presentations (TBA).
    13.10. Visitors 1: Thesis presentations. Note: we start at 15:45. The session will take place in R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4)
    Milica Stefanović: Wellbeing Depository: Universtity Setting - identifying wellbeing spaces in university setting. [Thesis link]
    Iiro Virta: Kehitysehdotus Teurastamon ja Tukkutorin alueelle - Uusi tapahtumapaikka Helsinkiin
    Both presentations & discussion in english.

    20.10. No session. (Evaluation week)
    27.10. Discussion: Contexts (based on A2.) Lecture: Intro on methods. A3. given. The session will start in Q202 (Väre).
    30.10. Architecture and Interior Architecture Thesis presentations.
    03.11. Visitors 2: Thesis presentations. 15:40-17:00. In R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4).
    Didi Ng Wing: Naturalness - The harmonious balance between craft and design
    Hannes Teräsvuori: The new K. H. Renlund museum
    Tatu Laakso: Manta – Design of an ecologically more sustainable upholstered armchair

    10.11. Lecture: Literature Review. Discussion on Lecture: Design Research. Methodological Considerations (Antti Pirinen). + info and discussion concerning 'Questions concerning your thesis process' (see the etherpad with the same name below). Session at: Rakentajanaukio 4, R1-160a.
    17.11. Discussion: My Methods (based on A3.) Lecture: Archives. The session will start in M202 (Väre).
    24.11. Discussion: My Materials (based on A4.) A5. given. The session will start in M202 (Väre).
    01.12. Lecture: Thesis Report. Lecture: Abstract. The session will take place in R1-160a (Rakentajanaukio 4)
    08.12. No session. Deadline of The Thesis Report (based on A5.).
    11.12. Architecture and Interior Architecture Thesis presentations.
    15.12. Discussion session on the course and the thesis process (not mandatory :-) ). The session will take place in Q202 (Väre).


    The discussions in the schedule are always based on the previous assignments and/or readings:
    06.10. Discussion: Thesis as Design / Research (based on A1. & R1.)
    27.10. Discussion: Contexts (based on A2.)
    17.11. Discussion: My Methods (based on A3. & R2.)
    24.11. Discussion: My Materials (based on A4.)
    08.12. Discussion: The Thesis Report (based on A5.)

    • Etherpad Lite icon

      Write here any questions you might have concerning your thesis process - we will discuss them next Friday 10.11.

      Write your questions on the pad before Thursday next week, so we will have some time to prepare for the discussion.

    • Not available unless: You are a(n) Student
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      Thesis Seminar Fall 2023 22.9.2023 File PDF
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      Thesis Seminar Fall 2023 6.10.2023 File PDF
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      06.10. Discussion: Thesis as Design / Research Folder
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      27.10. Discussion: Contexts Folder
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      17.11. Discussion: Questions Folder
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      File icon
      Lecture on Methods File PDF
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      Lecture on Archives File PDF
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      Lecture: Literature Review File PDF

      Hossam Hewidy

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      File icon
      Lecture: Abstract File PDF

      Hossam Hewidy

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      File icon
      Lecture on the Thesis report File PDF