Abstract: Istanbul-Karakoy Port, field of this study, has lost its
former significance in time due to the transformation of urban
functions. Today, activities for regeneration of this region continue in
two forms and scales. First of these activities is the "planned
transformation projects," which also includes “Galataport project”,
and the second one is "spontaneous transformation," which consists
of individual interventions. Galataport project that based on the idea
of arranging the area specifically for tourists was prepared in 2005
and became a topic of tremendous public debate. On the other hand,
the "spontaneous transformation" that is observed in Karakoy District
starts in 2004 with the foundation of “Istanbul Modern Museum”
which allowed the cultural integration of old naval warehouses of the
port to the daily life. Following this adaptive reuse intervention, the
district started to accommodate numerous art galleries, studios, caféworkshops
and design stores. In this context, this paper first examines
regeneration studies in obsolete port regions, analyzes the planned
and ongoing socio-spatial transformations in the specific case of
Karakoy and performs a critical review of the sustainability of the
proposals on how to reinstate the district in the active life of Istanbul.
Abstract: Contemporary city is a subject to rapid economic and
social changes. Therefore, it requires an active policy designed to
meet the diverse needs of their residents, build competitive position
and capacity to compete with other cities. Competitiveness of cities
depends largely on their resources but also to a large extent, on the
policies and performance of local authorities. Cooperation with social
sector also plays an important role, as it affects the use of resources
and builds an advantage over other cities.
The subject of this article is city's contemporary problems of
development with particular emphasis on central areas. This issue is a
starting point for reflection on the process of urban regeneration in
medium size cities in Poland, as well as cooperation between various
actors and their roles in the revitalization processes of Polish cities'
centers.