Each academic field will contain specific analysis related to those fields and these analyses will be utilized in a research paper. An architectural research paper utilizes a visual, textural and historical analysis. The visual analysis of an architectural research paper is normally the easiest type of analysis. You will obtain pictures of the object you are researching and even better if possible go visit the piece. The visual analysis of the architectural research paper will use your knowledge as a designer. You should ask questions about the space, different views, intent of the object, local climate and culture, and structural components. These are just a few questions that can be answered in your architectural research paper. But the possibilities are endless and the questions will change depending on the piece being researched.
The textural analysis deals with any text relating to your piece. If there is text associated with your piece you should describe its meaning in your architectural research paper, particularly since the majority of older pieces have text written in Latin. Identify what the author meant by the text and where his ideas originated. It may also be possible to compare the text of your piece to text on other pieces by the same author. The last type of analysis for an architectural research paper is the historical analysis. You must research the historical information surrounding that particular piece. What were the dominant issues of that time period, how did surrounding events influence the piece or design?
Your architectural research paper might discuss who the intended audience of the piece was and what ideas were the author or architect addressing at the time the piece was built. Not all of these analyses will be present in every architectural research paper but to completely research a piece they should be particularly the visual and historical analysis. The textural analysis would be used if there is an associated text with your chosen piece.