Twist and Turn
by Cheri Randolph
Title
Twist and Turn
Artist
Cheri Randolph
Medium
Photograph
Description
This worn wooden spiral staircase was photographed in a centuries-old Greek house located in the Fener neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey.
Because of the location of the Greek Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church, Fener was dominantly a Greek neighbourhood since the Byzantine period. In the 17th century, Fener became the residence of upper classes and the bourgeoisie with its hewn stone buildings and richly ornamented house facades. During the Ottoman period, an important segment of Greeks who lived in Fener, who were well-educated and fluent in several languages, held high government positions as interpreters or diplomats. During the 18th century, the majority of new constructions were made of stone or wood; and aristocratic Greek families started to build villas around the Patriarchate.
However, the settlement structure changed in the 19th century: Prominent families of Fener left the neighbourhood and moved to villages along the Bosphorus, such as Tarabya, Kurucesme and Arnavutkoy. Only officials, artisans and small traders were left behind and they moved to the unique row houses of the district. They started to build on the plots reclaimed from the fire. Until the 1960s, Fener preserved its identity as a Greek neighbourhood. With the first wave of immigrants to the bourgeois neighbourhoods of Istanbul ( the Prince's Islands, Kadikoy and Sisli) at the end of the 19th century, the population structure started to change radically. After a second wave, when the Greeks left Istanbul in large numbers in the 1960s. The deterioration of the characteristic seashore as a result of industrialization had an impact on Fener as well.
Following the 1960s, new inhabitants arriving from the Black Sea region started to settle in the area in large numbers.This coastal area underwent some very important physical changes in recent decades. A large number of the 18th century stone buildings in Fener and the buildings along the Golden Horn including the Balat Dock were demolished with bulldozers as part of a wide ranging program directed by the Mayor between 1984 and 1987. This project left intact only the city walls on the coast and a few historic buildings outside these walls.
Efforts to transform these areas into parks or other public space could not be achieved. The parks on the seashore are cut from the neighbourhood by a road with heavy traffic and inhabitants still need public or green space.
Note: This photograph has been processed with a digital watercolor filter and will reproduce more effectively if printed on a matte surface paper such as watercolor or Somerset Velvet.
Uploaded
October 3rd, 2012
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Comments (92)
RC DeWinter
Congratulations on your second place win in the Pieces of Architecture contest, Cheri. Glad I voted for you!
Cheri Randolph replied:
Gina, I'm glad that you voted for it, too :-) as well as so many others. It's nice to be noticed.
Marcia Colelli
Congratulations Cheri. A wonderful image and nice creative work. Oh, m,y oldest daughter is named Cheri. You do not see it that much. :-) Of course I think you have a very beautiful name also.
Cheri Randolph replied:
Marcia, Thanks for your compliment! I've always enjoyed the name. My mother made the selection because of a popular song at the time. Then, it had another song in the 60s. I'm sure your daughter thinks it's special, too.
Pamela Patch
Congratulations on your second place win in the Pieces of Architecture contest Cheri, well deserved!
Carol Senske
This is an incredible image, Cheri, and it won SECOND PLACE in the Pieces of Architecture contest. CONGRATULATIONS! V/F
Cheri Randolph replied:
Carol, Thanks for hosting the contest. I was pleased and honored that it received so many votes. Thanks for your V/F!
Barbara Chichester
congratulation Cheri on your second place win in Pieces of Architecture Contest! Well done! voted here and in contest
Cheri Randolph
My sincere thanks to all who voted for "Twist and Turn" in the Pieces of Architecture Contest completed 4/2/13, making it the second place winner out of 296 submissions.
Carla Parris
Voted for this great image in a current contest!
Cheri Randolph replied:
Carla, Thanks for letting me know that you gave this a vote in the Pieces of Architecture Contest! I appreciate your vote!
Barbara Chichester
One of my faves of your work, voted for you here and in Pieces of Architecture contest....good luck Cheri!
Cheri Randolph replied:
Barbara, Thanks so much! I appreciate your vote for this one in the Pieces of Architecture Contest!
RC DeWinter
v/f, voted in the Pieces of Architecture contest.
Cheri Randolph replied:
Gina, Thanks so much! I'm glad that you noticed this one in the contest and gave it a vote there and some generous support here, too!
Mary Machare
Fantastic capture, Cheri! vf
Cheri Randolph replied:
Mary, Thanks for the compliment and such generous support. I'm glad you liked this one.
Athena Mckinzie
Love the old time staircase. voted
Cheri Randolph replied:
Athena, thanks for noticing this one. It was probably about 300 years old. Appreciate your vote.