NICHOLAS ZEMBASHI
INTERMEDIATE 12 2013 - 2014 SECOND YEAR
POMP + POWER
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RICH = TASTEFUL
POMP + POWER NICHOLAS ZEMBASHI
Contents
Page
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Research I.
Event Anatomy: Pomp • Power • Escapism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - 7
The Event: Pomp • Power • Escapism II.
Unravelling the Event Scarf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 - 11
III.
Meet the Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 13
IV.
Establishing an Urban Ritual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 - 15
V.
Our Neighbourhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 - 17
VI.
A Gleaming Skyline; Eroded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 - 19
VII.
Wealth Erodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 - 21
VIII.
Unfolding Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 - 23
IX.
Each Stage Revealed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 - 27
X.
To Reveal or to Conceal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 - 29
XI.
The Currency of Reputation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 31
XII.
HELLO! Magazine • A Superficial World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 - 33
XIII.
Revealing the Friction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 - 35
XIV.
Un-boxing the Precious Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 - 37
INTRODUCTION
Welcome, welcome! Set foot into the overblown world of Istanbul’s women, into the Altin Günü, the turkish term for “Golden Day”. The project sprawls out of existing domestic events through which a hostess on rotation receives a gold gift, usually a coin, by organising a gathering of friends at her home. By establishing archetypical spaces for each of the event’s stages, the domestic proceedings are exaggerated to an urban scale. Henceforth, a critique may be formed on Istanbul’s gated residential high-rises and their spatial relationship to wealth and power. Networks for guests, hostesses and members of staff penetrate the city’s skyscrapers and trigger a massscale accumulation of wealth. The situation adds to the current strain on the Turkish government’s balance of payments deficit whereby an estimated 1.7 billion pounds worth of gold is being hoarded within turkish homes. As the boundaries between currency and reputation blur, a tower’s exterior is eroded by the alterations and expansions of individual properties; a bi-product of the proliferation of wealth and the need to display it’s power to the guests. An innocent gift, a glamorous get-together and what seems like a legacy of empowered women are part of the superficial framework cloaking a darker side to this event. An unwanted and inevitable grid-lock will result from the destabilising friction between “more money = bigger house” versus “bigger event = more infrastructure to maintain it”. After all, “reputation is merely what others think you are” and not what truly lies beneath.
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RESEARCH
POMP • The State Opening of Parliament
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5
POWER • La Toilette
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ESCAPISM • The Thames Frost Fair
- THE 1683 FROST FAIR -
Temple Street
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THE EVENT POMP + POWER
ev en t
objects
yp
st
ge
sta
og ies
ol
R ry TE to IN ’s S W est u G
A
urban-scale event time-line
domestic-scale event locations
objects
A AU M TU aid M ’s N St or y
domestic-scale event time-line
A H SPR os I t es NG s
or
’S t
y
ER M oth taff M b S SU ing and r Be ess mbe ist e H m
UNRAVELLING THE EVENT SCARF
urban-scale event locations
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MEET THE LADIES
Preparing
Aroma & Sweet
Preparing
Aroma & Sweet
Preparation
Preparation
GUEST HOSTESS GUEST MAID
HOSTESS MAID
6:00
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
8:00 Clean-Up:
12:00
13:00
10:00 9:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 touches: The Hairdresser: Finishing Picking Dress: The House is made spotless. To top it off the hostess Dressing up, make up, Yet another crucial The food is prepared The best impression is of the will most probably go and of course the jewellery Clean-Up: step. Once the (provided that a lot of The Hairdresser: Finishing touches: Picking Dress: In the Kitchen: utmost importance. The table and have her hair done Dressing (which may include hostess has done The House is made spotless. shopping and planning To top it off the hostess up, make up, a Yet another crucial The food is prepared is laid, the food is placed in especially for the occasion purchase made by using her best n spatially had gone best impression is of the will most probably go and of course the jewellery Once the (provided that into a lotitofthe The presentable order. Eating maystep.impressing not have someone help the gold of the fund she then andifhave days before) and the utmost importance. The table her hair done (which may include a has done shopping and planning be planned to be as limited ashostess her do it at home. She may received some other time). the nest move is especially menu usually includes is laid, the food is placed in for the occasion purchase made by using her best n spatially had gone into it the the equivalent of brunch, or as to pick a dress. opt to do it alone of course A last check is run around traditional small presentable order. Eating may impressing then if not have someone help gold of the fund she days savoury before) and the big as a proper feast. Hence but for the best result shethe the house, any food kept These may range dishes and be planned to be as limited as her goes do it at home. She may Itreceived some other time). is the nest move is the laying out may be oriented menua usually includes to the hairdresser. away for preservation from classic, variety of desserts the equivalent of brunch, or as opt to do it alone of course A last check is to pick a dress. towards eating on your lap (or traditional small is yet another addition to brought out run fresharound on the simple elegance and cakes to be big as a proper feast. Hence but for the best result she the house, any food kept on a coffee table) or eating at These may range savoury dishes andwith tea. the beautification of her table and the hostess is now to ridiculously accompanied the laying out may be oriented fromopulent the dining table. to the forto preservation is classic,kitsch goesbody andhairdresser. display ofItheraway ready accept her guests. a variety of desserts towards eating on your lap (or is yet another addition to brought out fresh on the wealth to her guests. simple elegance dresses. The and cakes to be If the event is planned coffee table)Odasi: or eating at Misafir assistant (maid the beautification of her table and the hostess is now to ridiculously to be bigger accompanied withthan tea.the on a The The Guest Room; Hardly ever the dining table. or friend hostess is able to opulent kitschpresent)body and display of her ready to accept her guests. used the room is spatially one usually wealth to her guests. dresses. Thehelps with If themanage event issingle-handedly planned of the most important elements choosing. The Misafir Odasi: then an assistant is assistant (maid to be bigger than the theRoom; hostessHardly to display Guest everher or friend present) often withto her to helpThe for hostess is able andisleave a lasting withsingle-handedly preparations, usedwealth the room spatially one manage impression. Every item of usually helps with usually a maid or a of the most important elements choosing. then an assistant is considerable value is displayed friend who may be onfor the hostess to display her often with her to help while the ornate furniture is the guest list and is also wealth and leave a lasting with happy preparations, often covered for protection. to help.
6:00
7:00 In the Kitchen:
usually a maid or a friend who may be on the guest list and is also happy to help.
impression. Every item of considerable value is displayed while the ornate furniture is often covered for protection.
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14:00
14:15
14:30
14:00 14:15 14:30 The Guests Arrive: 14 Aro Only females, sometimes with their The children permitted. All of them Arom or h The GuestsifArrive: having paid almost equal attention assi Only females, sometimes with their The h to theirifappearance as the hostess. children permitted. All of them orspri her colo having paid almost equal attention assista Arrival Etiquette: the to their appearance as the hostess. sprink - Each guest is greeted at the door of e cologn by the hostess and ushered in. gues Arrival Etiquette: - Guests also greet each other by the ha - Each guest is greeted at the door of eac shaking hands, starting from the by nearest the hostess and ushered in. guest. to the door and working - Guests alsoinwards. greet each other by their way shaking hands, - If there is anstarting elderlyfrom guestthe though nearest to the door demands and working she immidiately for greater respect and is greeted first with a their way inwards. onisher hand. - Ifkiss there anright elderly guest though she immidiately demands for greater respect and is greeted first with a kiss on her right hand.
Feast
Gift & Tea
Feast
Gift & Tea
The Altin Günü
The Altin Günü
14:30
14:45
15:00
15:30
15:45
16:00
16:15
15:45 16:00 Tea and 16:15 Let 15:30 the Feast begin: Dessert: mes with their The hostess Candy is Once everyone has settled in the hostess Tea, cookies or All of themAroma: offered signalsLet thethe beginning of the feast and Tea cake areDessert: served or her Sweeties: Feast begin: and ual attention in a dish urges the guests to help themselves to to each guest. assistant ith their The hostess Candy is Once everyone has settled in the hostess Tea, cookies or the hostess. to each food. Depending on the scale of the There is etiquette sprinkle them offered signals the beginning of the feast and cake are served or her event they may have portions of food in to the serving and cologne on guest. It tention in a dish urges the guests to help themselves to to each guest. assistant must be dishes on their laps in the sitting area or acceptance of tea: the hands ostess. the scale the is There etiquette sprinkle at the door accepted food. on Depending coffee tables on otherwise if theoffood - Theisfirst of each to each they or may have portions of food in toglass the serving on guest. ered in. cologne butItneed event served is displayed as a proper buffet served and guest. mustnot be be dishes on their lapsarea in the sitting of tea: h other by the hands in the dinning then theyarea dineorall acceptance is generally door the of each accepted on coffee tables otherwise if the food is The first ge from eaten. together. accepted. but need served or is displayed as a proper buffet glass served glass is dn.working guest. - A second er by and must not be in the dinning area then they dine all isserved generally also mguest the though eaten. together. accepted. nds for greater accepted. king - Abe second glass is first with a - The and thirdmust glass served is only accepted though also when one wishes or greater be accepted. to prolong her with a - The third glass stay. 14:30
Aroma: 14:45
Sweeties: 15:00
15:15
15:15
is only accepted when one wishes to prolong her stay.
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16:30
16:45
17:00
Gifts to the fund: 17:00 16:45 16:30 The Altin
18:00
Departure:18:00 17:45 Some Altin Günü Parties last for an entire day and the fund is Departure: big enough to Günü allow Parties for property Some Altin last investments. Games are played for an entire day and the fund is and women engage in gossip. In big enough to allow for property order to leave a woman signals a investments. are slowly played group by sayingGames “we must and women engage in gossip. In think of leaving”. Then they begin order to farewell leave a woman signals a by biding to the hostess group by saying must slowly with a hand shake. “we If another think ofwishes, leaving”. they begin member she Then can set a date by invite bidingthe farewell toher thehouse hostess and group to aswith while departs. a hand shake. If another
17:15
The hostess brings out the silver or gold platedThe dishAltin and sets it at Gifts tothe thecentre fund:of the table for each member to drop their The hostess brings out the silver orcoin gold in: plated dish and sets it at the centre of the - The Cumhurieyt is often given first. table for each member to drop their coin This is a predetermined amount in gold in: especially for the women’s children and -toThe Cumhurieyt is often parties given first. help with their birthday and This gifts.is a predetermined amount in gold especially for the women’s children and - 18 carat gold coins, each weighing to help withare their birthday parties and 7.2 grams, dropped by the guests gifts. into the dish. These follow a traditional seal withcoins, an inscription on one -design 18 carat gold each weighing sidegrams, and Kemal Ataturk’s on 7.2 are dropped byprofile the guests the other. They are often threaded on into the dish. These follow a traditional red ribbon well are typically design sealas with anand inscription on one purchased at theAtaturk’s Grand Bazaar side and Kemal profile on
the other. They are often threaded on red ribbon as well and are typically purchased at the Grand Bazaar
17:45
17:15
member wishes, she can set a date and invite the group to her house as while departs.
BLISHING ESTABLISHING AN AN URBAN URBAN RITUAL RITUAL Eroding Residential Eroding High-rises Residential High-rises over over time time
02 4 Carcass
tomised on an urban scale and anised feature of the 2020 Istanbul ated, spectacular, structures are ing residential structures. By 2050 es of skyscrapers remain.
2024
022
2022
021
2021
mbellished
d of 2014, and throughout 2015, The
020 bound to the space and one another
ndaries between property value and lurred as women begin to use their materials for exhibiting their wealth me.
2020
019
2019
019
2019
ansion
aken over from inside-out the alth becomes apparent on its increasing number of extension 1 8 are commission h0 the women esigners to build.
2018
017
2017
UTUMN
AUTUMN
MMER
SUMMER
RING
SPRING
NTER
WINTER
ards
ulation of wealth through their 016 and homes which they xhibit it by expanding spatially. MMER
UTUMN apartments
2016 AUTUMN SUMMER 1 Hostess per area
1 Hostess per area
1 Staff member per area 1 Staff member per area 5 sq.m = 30 coins = £7500 5 sq.m = 30 coins = £7500 100 sq.m 1 Domestic Event Urban Event
100 sq.m 1 Domestic Event Urban Event
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Anthill Residence Istanbul’s Sisli District price per sq. m: £1500 6 X 7.2 gram gold coins
N LHINGRI ANTUAL URBAN RITUAL
e ding Residential High-rises over time
1 Hostess per area 1 Staff member per area 5 sq.m = 30 coins = £7500 100 sq.m 1 Domestic Event
Anthill Residence Anthill Residence Istanbul’s Sisli Istanbul’s District Sisli District price per sq. price m: per £1500 sq. m: £1500 6 X 7.2 gram 6gold X 7.2 gram gold coins coins
Urban Event
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Anthill Residenc Istanbul’s Sisli Dist
price per sq. m: £1 6 X 7.2 gram gold c
OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD • BOMONTI ŞIŞLI The Anthill Residence
Our Neighbourhood • Bomonti Şişli The Anthill Residence
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0
100
200m
A GLEAMING SKYLINE; ERODED Power is a lot like real estate. It’s all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source the higher your property value.
The Anthill Residence
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0
The domestic Altin GĂźnĂź brings more and more gold into the funds of the women. The wealthier members begin to invest into improving their properties and expanding their spaces. The first extensions to their apartments take place.
10
20 m
The event on an urban scale is being established as a network of large event spaces is erected within the tower, penetrating its existing infrastructure. Meanwhile residences get bigger as some women purchase surrounding properties and expand into them.
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As the seasonal, large-scale event becomes establish and significantly greater sums of wealth are accumulated neighbourhoods of power form and erode the tower. An elite bunch of residences remains along with their staff sustaining the events.
WEALTH ERODES
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• Guests
• Staff
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• Hostesses
UNFOLDING NETWORKS
ARRIVAL
ACCEPTANCE
12:00
BOUDOIR
SWEET & COCKTAIL
18:00
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FEAST & GIFT
FAREWELL
24:00
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EACH STAGE REVEALED
SPA “This is the only face, body and skin I’m going to have, so I want to take care of it to the best if my ability”
ENTRANCE “I don’t want to be a hot girl. I want to be iconic.” 24
ACCEPTANCE “Darling, I’m the perfect person to guide the newcomer in.”
BOUDOIR “I tell you dear I’m not into Botox or lifting, believe me I’ve seen such sights, it’s put me off totally; ..... mmm this smell is divine here you must sprinke some on” 25
SWEET & COCKTAIL
“I don’t need a husband, what I need right now is sugar and a gin and tonic”
KITCHENS “Now gather round ladies; this is how you roll the vine leaf so your dolma doesn’t come undone” 26
FEAST & GIFT “You see, I’ve simply got to cut back - to just the three houses” 27
TO REVEAL OR TO CONCEAL? Embellishing Space - Layer-editing of the urban high-rise
Envelope Cataloguing
Perforated Metallic Curtain Walls
Ceramic
Stone
Bronze
Transparent Glass
Moulded Glass
Triangulated Frame
Curved
Fabric Skins
Sculptured envelopes
Tinted Glass by day and night
Highly Reflective Cladding
Dressing up a skyscraper - The Curtain Wall Case Studies
Prada Aoyama Herzog and de Meuron
“Bouble� Glass Panells Glass Panel Frame Primary Structure I-Beam Frame White cladding material
The Beinecke Library Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Vermont Marble Panels Grey Granite Cladding
Primary Structure - Steel Frame
The Lever House Building Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Glass Panels Frame Structure Floor Slabs Primary Structure - Columns
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THE CURRENCY OF REPUTATION The reshaped skyline casts a shadow of financial and spatial distabalisation
The evolution of currency: 72gm gold coin
IAR gold card
These follow a traditional design seal with an inscription on one side and Kemal Ataturk’s profile on the other. They are often threaded on red ribbon as well and are typically purchased at the Grand Bazaar. In recent times the Istanbul Gold Refinery, since 2002, has been encouraging registered gold cards to be used as substitutes to the coins in order for the gold purchased to be regulated.
New forms of monitoring and regulating the gold within the Turkish economy are introduced by the government through the Istanbul Gold Refinery which produces special cards with the amount of gold moulded within the card and registered.
Space as a currency
Reputation as a currency
Questions regarding the future of gold, property, ownership and wealth within the urban environment of Istanbul will become relevant to the legacy of the event. Property and wealth will be linked stronger than ever and the spectacle of wealth when hosting will intensify as a ritual. Pretty; expenive; shiny; it’s a winner!
Reputation capital can create a massive positive disruption in who has power , trust and influence over government and society. The social networks formed and the wider community of women established through the events may become powerful enough to push through stereotypes. Members rise as key figures in the property market and on the political stage. Be the fairest of them all girl!
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0
10
20 m
ACCEPTANCE
NUR ARSLAN
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: WHY SHE SIGNIFICANTLY TONED DOWN HER APPEARANCE AT THIS SUMMER’S ALTIN EVENT
he stunning Nur Aslan granted HELLO T with an exclusive insight into her personal
“This year I thought why not tone it down a little; We are, after all, women innocently gifting golden goodies to each other, no hard feelings. It’s all such fun!”
WHO COULD FORG
ET LAST SUMMER’S The harmonious dis VENUS play of whites and golds was painstaki ganised on one of ngly orthe most spacious, distinctive, granite the upper corridor plinths on of the acceptance hall where the mo recognised and we st socially althier, or virtually mo re respectable, par voluntarily stage ticipants, elaborate displays, often featuring som ‘entrance’ gift, han e small d-made or inspire d by the hostess beautiful Nur decide herself. The d to re-enact her act ing Sultan’s court in the role as a member of smash hit series “M the uhteşem Yüzyıl” and to pose in ‘royal’ fas decided hion. The display fea tured over 800 white imported from var flowers ious regions all-ove r Turkey. Meanwhile association of goldsm , the old iths from the now museum-turned gol of the Grand Bazaa d Souk r, have gifted 455 vintage Ataturk gol These coins, now d coins. rare in circulation, were to be embed flowers and receiv within the ed by each guest, in veneration of the power these events underlying interior designer of have on Turkey’s gold market. A close designed by none Nur selected the furniture while the friend and other than Istanbul’s dress was own Rifat Özbek.
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attendance of Istanbul’s most spectacular mega event. Focusing on her most recent appearances of the last year’s summer and autumn events, she explains how she decided to finally try a toned down ‘pose’ at the now internationally famous acceptance ceremony. She explains, “ During my last set up I really enjoyed it, the guests enjoyed it, the media, it was wonderful to have the chance to be so creative. I mean we really went crazy....my ivory silk dress, the lase, the French chaise and of course the flowers with vintage gold coins sown into their centres.” Of course how could anyone forget when each guest entered that event and from the very early stage of acceptance received their own white rose with a 7.2 gram coin embedded inside... after all they were the ones expected to be bringing a gift. “However its not a competition in the end.” says Nur, regarding her latest appearance and decision to stand on a smaller plinth and do away with her older elaborate orchestrations (hopefully, temporarily). “So this year I thought why not reverse the conventional hierarchical display, why not tone it down a little; It’s just wonderful, the gifts and simply being with the girls. We are, after all, women innocently gifting golden goodies to each other, no hard feelings. It’s all such fun!” H AYSHE AGALOGLU PHOTOS: NICHOLAS ZEMBASHI
IN THE BOUDOIR
“There’s always a sense of excitement for the guest who’s squirt actually sets off an explosion!”
Moyra Reynolds is a British expatriate who bought a property in one of Istanbul’s famous event high-rises right after the bubble created in the market during the build-up to the 2020 Expo. Here she enjoys the aromatic boudoir, a space designated for applying aroma to the hands as the women ascend the tower during the seasonal golden gifting events. “An explosive space, quite literally”, says Moyra. “I would hear about this stage from my Turkish friends but nothing compares to the actual experience.” She is right. As the Turkish women expanded and refined their event throughout recent decades, this stage acquired a special connection with the outside which only heightens the contrast it has as a more private enclosure of smells and cushions. In what way? To blow up buildings and launch fireworks with every squirt of aroma!
All of which are displayed live on the screens around the room! “It’s all under control though”, states Moyra. These are all controlled demolitions of buildings purchased by the women’s associations using parts of the funds raised every time. Some say we are even doing a favour for Toki (the powerful government property development institutuion) by clearing up the ‘dirty’ bits of town. Some squirts launch fireworks, some blow up columns and walls, others explode a gold mine somewhere on mainland Turkey, while most simply squirt out the aroma. “Hence there’s always a sense of excitement and indeed tension for the guest who’s squirt actually sets off an explosion!” H AYSHE AGALOGLU PHOTOS: NICHOLAS ZEMBASHI
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WHAT GOES IN COMES OUT
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LADIES AT HOME
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UN-BOXING THE PRECIOUS TOWER
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I DON’T NEED ARCHITECTS I NEED MAIDS
the
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NICHOLAS ZEMBASHI Architectural Association • Intermediate Unit 12