Many of Almaty’s newer ATMs have a perculiar form: a significantly larger footprint than the international norm; and positioned in locations that force the customer to complete transactions with their back brushed by passing footfall.

Every piece of urban infrastructure comes with assumptions of extended use: from the piles of rubbish that often build up around waste bins; people positioning themselves to stand in the thin column of shade from a pedestrian crossing street sign; to the ‘acceptable’ distance between a pedestrian and the ATM user completing transaction in, what many would consider to be a high theft-risk environment.