Architecture and Interior Design + Civil Engineering
Design a small house for a real plot
Design a compact house for a specific family and site, with plans, a section and a model.
- DifficultyIntermediate
- Estimated time2–4 weeks
- Budget₹500–₹1,000
- ClassClass 11 to college
- TeamSolo or up to 3
- You needHousehold materials
Prerequisites: Scale drawing
Original · by TechnifyedArchitecture ModelEngineering DesignWell documentedTwo subjects
Overview
Architecture starts with a site and a client. Choose a real plot, note the sun, wind and views, define a family's needs and design a house that responds to both.
Why build this?
It is the core architecture school exercise and shows spatial thinking, not just drawing skill.
What you will learn
- How to analyse a site
- How to arrange rooms by use and climate
- How to draw plans and a section to scale
- How to build a study model
Skills you will use
Safety
- This project uses a blade or sharp tool. Cut away from your body on a cutting mat, and ask an adult to help younger students.
Materials and tools
- A measured plot
- Drawing tools
- Card and foam board for a model
Tools and software
Step-by-step roadmap
Start
You will finish with: site analysis, plans, a section, a model and a design statement.
- 1
Prerequisites
Know this first: scale drawing. Then collect the 3 items in the materials list.
- 2
Learn
- How to analyse a site
- How to arrange rooms by use and climate
- How to draw plans and a section to scale
- How to build a study model
- 3
Plan
Sketch the design, list every part with its price and decide how you will know it works.
- 4
Build
- Measure a plot and mark north, the road and the neighbours.
- Note the sun path and wind direction.
- Write the family's brief: people, rooms, budget.
- Sketch three arrangements as bubble diagrams.
- Draw the plan and one section at 1:100.
- Build a 1:100 model and photograph it in sunlight.
- 5
Test
Check every room has daylight and cross-ventilation, and that the furniture fits.
- 6
Document
Photograph each build stage, keep the circuit or drawing, and note what failed and how you fixed it. Report structure
- 7
Present
Demonstrate it working first, then explain how it works and what you would improve. Presentation structure · Viva questions
- 8
Publish
Share a short video, the parts list and the drawing or code so someone else can build it.
Expected outcome
Site analysis, plans, a section, a model and a design statement.
Other versions of this project
Beginner version
Design a single-room cabin.
Advanced version
Calculate the built-up area and a rough construction cost.
Research version
Study how orientation changes daylight using a model and a torch as the sun.
Social-impact version
Design it as a low-cost house using local materials.
Make this project better
- BasicDesign a single-room cabin.
- This projectDesign a small house for a real plot
- AdvancedCalculate the built-up area and a rough construction cost.
- ResearchStudy how orientation changes daylight using a model and a torch as the sun.
Research mode
Text marked "You write this" is a prompt for your own work; everything else is specific to this project.
- Research question
- You write thisOne question you can answer with data, narrow enough to finish in the time you have.
- Hypothesis
- You write thisWhat you expect to find, and why.
- Variables
- You write thisWhat you change or compare, what you measure, and what you hold constant.
- Methodology
- Study how orientation changes daylight using a model and a torch as the sun.
- Data collection
- You write thisSay what you will record, how many times, and how you will keep the records safe.
- Analysis
- You write thisChoose the table, chart or test that answers the question; report averages with their spread.
- Limitations
- You write thisList what could have affected the result: small sample, instrument limits, things you could not control.
Literature review
Find five to eight sources (your textbook, review articles, reports) and note what each says about your question. Group them by idea, not one after another, and end with what is still not known.
References
List every source you used in one style throughout (author, year, title, where it was published, link and the date you opened it).
Working as a team
Solo or up to 3. Suggested roles:
Report and presentation
Report structure
- Title and aim
- The problem it solves
- How it works (principle)
- Parts list with cost
- Design: drawing, circuit or block diagram
- Build steps
- Testing and results
- Problems faced and fixes
- Limitations
- Future improvements
- References
Presentation structure
- The problem
- The idea
- How it works (one diagram)
- Parts and cost
- The build (photos)
- Live demo or video
- Test results
- What did not work
- Next version
Viva questions
Try answering before you open each one.
How did the climate shape your design?
Explain the orientation, shading and openings.
What is a section?
A vertical cut through the building showing heights and levels.
Why bubble diagrams first?
To settle relationships between spaces before drawing walls.
What would you change with a bigger budget?
Be specific.
Source and attribution
Original
Written by Technifyed. Free to use for your own school or college project; write the report in your own words. Added 1 Oct 2026.
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