yes, this is a new installation of the damascus room. y room, so it was during the ottoman empire. this was an average home in damascus. it was a very prosperous city at the time. but also there's a european influence in terms of pattern and design with the inlay of the glass on the wood and the lacquer. gold leaf is being used, as well, but also it gives you an idea of how people used to live. tell me a little bit about the genesis of this museum. when my father decided to build a museum of islamic art, he approached im pei, and first he said, no, he's not interested. he knew nothing about our part of the world. he's just retired and he had no interest. but between him and my mother, they were able to convince him. he did have conditions, in the sense that he wanted the museum to stand alone on an island, and as you see, this museum stands by itself. this land was built for this museum. so it's a reclaimed island. i think i also read that he spent several months travelling through the middle east, to really study. you can see, he's broug