Author(s)

A. E. Erbas

Abstract

Istanbul has always been the core of different civilizations in history. As the capital city of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul’s modern place within the world economy began in the late eighteenth century with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the growth of modern European capitalism. Istanbul Metropolitan Areas has been experiencing a massive pressure to transform itself into a \“World City” with the help of emerging neo-liberal urban policies after the 1990s. Radical changes in the world politics after 9/11 and increasing energy demand have made Istanbul a candidate for a regional hub to financial flows and energy corridors. International capital sees Istanbul as likely to be the command and control centre for the Balkans, the Middle East, the Black Sea Region, and some of the Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union. From this point of view, it has a strategic geographical location which promotes competitive economy at EU level. This paper initially contains an analytical perspective. This perspective informs the analyses of the evolution of urban regeneration legislations in Turkey. Also, a literature review was made about the transition in Istanbul under the process of globalization. The results of dynamics of urbanization have come up for discussion. In this paper the relationships between the Central Business District in decentralization process and the vision of the Istanbul Metropolitan Plan for 2023 are discussed. The focus of the research case is the Zincirlikuyu-Maslak Axis; a new enterprise site in the Istanbul Metropolitan area. These kinds of urban projects in the Zincirlikuyu-Maslak area should be seen as a means not only to convert the areas into more attractive spaces but also to regenerate the economy of both the city and the local region. Keywords: Metropolitan Plan, CBD, sustainable urban development.

Keywords

Keywords: Metropolitan Plan, CBD, sustainable urban development.