- urban change and town centres: istanbul historic peninsula case study    83 kb by    Ulusay Alpay, Bilge | bilgeualpay@yahoo.de    Short Outline The paper will assess the current spatial decisions within the historic district of Istanbul as part of increasing the competitiveness of the city and its historic and cultural heritage that are not properly protected. Abstract History of urban indicates that town and economics are interrelated. The traditional approach to importance of town space as an economic entity has been currently shifted within the context of globalisation with particular references to competitiveness and harmonisation processes. Old town structures are important with their range of qualities in particular their historic public spaces that provides opportunities to bring people together. However, fabric of old town establishments are partially deteriorated as part of the process of transition to industrial town and contemporary economic, social and environmental conditions. Against this back ground, currently, mega shopping centres are being constructed in major towns located within historic cores and partly replacing them. These shopping centres are inner city alternatives for sub-regions and also can complete the public space network. However, they cannot replace public space and services. Furthermore, establishment of these mega shopping centres resulted in the loss of vitality of traditional town centres. Historic peninsula in Istanbul is the oldest part of the city within the city walls with invaluable cultural heritage. This historic settlement along with its historic identity, it is a centre of intense commercial activities. Eminonu District within the walled city, in particular where the Hanlar area is located, is a traditional commercial centre of the city of Istanbul. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to focus on the qualities of the Eminonu District which can be summurised as unique, touristic and economic centre, together with its unused spaces, derelict historic sites and buildings. By doing so, the paper will assess the current spatial decisions within the District with regard to both the wrongly located functions as part of increasing the competetivenes of city and its historic and cultural heritage that are not properly protected. Keywords urban change, cultural heritage Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2005: Making Spaces for the Creative Economy   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper