Yasamin Kazemi

Advisor: Lancelot Coar

The image depicts a historical courtyard with traditional architecture, featuring a building with arched windows, ornate carvings, and a narrow pathway alongside a central pool. Lush trees, classical buildings, and a soft blue sky with clouds complete the scene.
The floor plan shows a house with a detailed, colored illustration of rooms, a courtyard, and a water feature on the left. The right features a pencil sketch labeling functional areas like storage, studying, and cooking.
Developing Memories- Detailed representation of the homes, incorporating activities that took place within them to capture the essence of the memories and experiences shared by the elders.
The illustration showcases vibrant daily life and cultural richness through a detailed multi-story building with colorful rooms on the left and a bustling urban setting with ornate architecture and markets on the right. Lush foliage and interactions between people enhance the lively atmosphere.
Narrative Spaces- Using Persian Painting style to provide a unique way to express the narrative of the houses and the neighborhood.
The black-and-white sketch of a Persian house layout highlights its community connection, with an alley, vestibule, corridor, and inner courtyard. The upper section shows a communal seating area, with labels detailing areas and the entrance sequence.
Community Dynamics- How Persian Houses are connected to the community
The digital composition features two panels blending traditional and contemporary themes with geometric Islamic borders. The upper panel shows traditional living spaces and activities, while the lower depicts Persian miniatures, calligraphy, and community scenes.
Weaving Memories and Care- how to weave together the two worlds of nostalgic memories of traditional homes and the realities of care.
The miniature model features a decorative facade with colorful windows, a room displaying photo cards of elderly people and caregivers, and ornate rugs. The setup conveys intimacy and interconnected lives through spatial storytelling.
interplay of three interconnected lives: the elderly, visiting family members, and caregivers.
The image shows proposed interior spaces in an industrial-style building with tall concrete beams and skylights. The left features a vibrant library, while the right displays a wellness area for older adults, with large windows offering a view of a courtyard.
Imagery Collage of Proposed Interior Spaces
The image shows a proposed exterior space with an old warehouse, a market scene featuring gardening and fresh produce, and fruit trees. The overcast sky and flying birds enhance the natural and urban blend.
Imagery Collage of Proposed Exterior Spaces

Home Away from Home  

Designing Elder Care with Cultural Identity and Emotional Continuity  

When I was 7 or 8, my mother and I would often visit my grandfather's house after school to cook for him and keep him company. His deep attachment to his home was evident—no other place felt like home to him. Even when staying with us, he always longed to return to his house, where he found a sense of belonging that no other place could replicate. However, when his health declined, we had to move him to a nursing home. Despite the medical attention he received, he struggled to find comfort and a sense of home in his new environment.  

Aging is inevitable, and as people grow older, many require assisted living and elder care. Yet, these facilities often prioritize physical and medical needs, overlooking the holistic well-being that comes from emotional and cultural connections. For many elders, this disconnection from spaces that reflect their memories, identity, and heritage impacts their sense of self, diminishing their overall well-being.  

This thesis explores how architecture for elder care can integrate cultural traditions and foster a sense of belonging while addressing the practical needs of modern assisted living, with a particular focus on the Persian community. It examines traditional houses and neighborhoods in Mashhad, Iran, to understand how elders' lives can inspire a holistic approach to well-being through designs that emphasize behaviors, spatial use, social interactions, and a sense of community within traditional architecture.  

In addition to focusing on individual needs, the thesis highlights the role of the broader community in eldercare, proposing a model where elders remain embedded in social and cultural networks. The project explores how intergenerational relationships and mutual support systems within the community can enhance the care environment.  

Simultaneously, the thesis analyzes contemporary care facilities to assess how well they meet residents' emotional and cultural needs. These insights provide a foundation for rethinking elder care design, weaving together the two worlds of an elder’s past life and their present care needs. By integrating traditional concepts of home, community, and care, this thesis proposes new frameworks for elder care that balance medical and physical requirements with the emotional and cultural well-being essential for creating a true sense of home.