By Ben Hubbard, Anjali Singhvi, James Glanz, Mika Gröndahl, Elif Ince, Beril Eski and Safak Timur
May 11, 2023
Renaissance Residence was a testament to Turkey’s grand ambitions, a large, iconic project designed to meet the rising expectations of an expanding middle class in a rapidly developing part of the country.
Towering over what was once farmland for wheat, okra and cotton, the upscale complex offered hotel-style amenities and helped transform the rural enclave of Ekinci into a bustling suburb, attracting judges, teachers, doctors, police officers and professional soccer players.
Despite significant earthquake risk, Selma Keskin, a lawyer and single mother who moved into a third-floor apartment with her adolescent son, was reassured by the pedigree of the building, a signature work of a prominent local firm headed by a well-known architect. “We never thought he would build a building that was not earthquake-proof,” Ms. Keskin said.
It was destined to fail.