Masi Shiran

The chance to develop her research alongside like-minded aspirational people, both students and staff, has put Masi on the path to a PhD.

Master of Architecture Graduate Masi Shiran’s research investigated a topic she’d been passionate about for some time—the role of architectural design in enhancing place attachment, the emotional bond between a person and place, for older adults in retirement communities.

“My research looked at retirement villages and how ‘ageing in place’ in this new environment could be made possible by enhancing place attachment through physical features of the environment,” says Masi. “Housing and issues related to housing have always been a concern of mine. The Master’s programme gave me the freedom to explore this more serious topic in depth. With the number of elderly people increasing worldwide, it is time to explore housing options for this age group and specific ways we can help them ‘age in place’.”

Working with retirement communities in Wellington for her research gave Masi the valuable opportunity to “help elderly people by being their voice”.

“With a growing ageing population, we need to explore effective housing solutions that help people aged 65-plus achieve wellbeing and independence,” she says. “I feel really privileged to have developed my research alongside like-minded, inspirational people, both fellow students and academic staff, as well as people in the community.”

For Masi, the research skills she gained while studying her Master’s have put her on the pathway to a PhD, something she wants to pursue in the near future.