Behind a tinted glass panel 18-carat gold powder, laid down by a robot arm, sparkles as a laser fuses the metal into complex three-dimensional shapes, layer by layer.
The yellow metal had been trading in tandem with the broader commodity complex this year, as a comparison between the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) and the PowerShares DB Commodity Index shows.
The gated complex includes blast doors, reinforced windows and a series of metal detectors that visitors must navigate before reaching embassy offices.
Her complex character is reflected at home where ultra-modern brushed-metal decor overlooks a natural swimming pool brimming with pond life and the chicken run at the end of the garden.