Studio projects by year
| Year | Typical projects | Scale | What jurors look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Basic design compositions, a personal space, bus stop, kiosk, artist's studio | 10–100 sq m | Form, proportion, human scale, model making |
| Second | Residence, cafe, nursery school, small clinic, guest house | 150–800 sq m | Planning, circulation, climate, sections |
| Third | Primary school, library, community centre, hostel, small office | 1,500–5,000 sq m | Structure, services, bye-laws, site response |
| Fourth | Hospital, college campus, group housing, mixed-use block, urban design | 8,000–25,000 sq m | Complex zoning, services, housing typologies, urban context |
| Fifth | Thesis on a topic you choose | 8,000–25,000 sq m | A clear research question answered through design |
Project ideas when you can choose
- Rural primary school using local materials
- Craft centre and haat for a heritage town
- Riverfront public space with flood-resilient design
- Adaptive reuse of a mill or warehouse as a cultural centre
- Co-working and maker space near a college
- Bus terminal or metro interchange with a public plaza
- Night shelter and skill centre for urban migrants
- Eco-resort or nature interpretation centre
- Sports complex for a district town
- Old-age home with day care and community kitchen
Drawings to submit for a studio
- Site analysis: climate, access, views, surroundings
- Case studies and inferences
- Area programme and bubble or zoning diagram
- Concept and massing development
- Site plan, floor plans and roof plan
- At least two sections through key spaces
- All elevations
- Views, axonometric and model photos
- Sustainability and structure diagrams if asked
How to score well in a studio
- Visit the site and photograph it; jurors notice a desk-only site study
- Keep a clear concept that you can say in one sentence
- Resolve the staircase, toilets and structure early
- Check bye-laws (setbacks, FSI, parking) before final drawings
- Show progress at every review, not only at the end
- Practise explaining your design with the common jury questions
FAQs
What is the first design project in B.Arch?
Most colleges start with basic design exercises in 2D and 3D, then a small space such as a personal room, kiosk or bus stop, to teach scale, proportion and the human body.
How do I choose a design project topic?
Pick a real site you can visit, a user group you understand and a programme of the size your studio asks for. Check that two or three case studies are available.
What software is used in design studios?
AutoCAD for drawings, SketchUp or Rhino for 3D, Revit in later years, Lumion or Enscape for renders, and Photoshop and InDesign for sheets. See <a href="/architectural-drawings">architectural drawings</a> for which drawing uses which tool.
Can Project Buddyy help with my studio project?
Yes. We mentor studio projects from site analysis to final sheets and the jury, with drafting, 3D and composition help starting from ₹2,999.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26. Always follow the format your own department gives you.