Speaker
Description
Istanbul is a metropolis that both experiences the effects of multiple crises—sometimes even becoming part of the crisis dynamics—and has the potential to develop proactive solutions to them. Since 2019, the city has been actively working to address these challenges through innovative planning approaches.
The macro-scale planning outputs of these new approaches are the Istanbul Vision 2050 Strategy Document and the Istanbul Vision 2050 Action Plan (VEP). The Istanbul Vision 2050 Action Plan was developed with a perspective that considers the challenges posed by multiple crises and follows a multi-scale planning framework. These efforts have evolved through a comprehensive participatory process, synthesizing contemporary academic research, the demands of civil society, and the conditions of local governments.
Within this contemporary planning practice in Istanbul, heritage planning has become an increasingly important issue due to the multi-stakeholder nature of cultural and natural heritage governance and the unique ontological value of the city’s heritage itself.
This situation has opened up discussions on how Istanbul’s cultural heritage can move beyond merely being an asset that requires conservation to play a more decisive role in urban policies. In this context, the intersection of cultural heritage strategies and actions with other urban policy areas has strengthened its impact and expanded its role. This paper aims to explore and evaluate the growing role of heritage in Istanbul Vision 2050 and examine how this transformation has taken shape.
The Istanbul Vision 2050 Strategy Document focuses on the challenges of integrated conservation for Istanbul's cultural and natural heritage. It defines the "Istanbul Heritage" approach not only in terms of heritage elements such as protected areas and registered cultural assets but also in relation to its broader metropolitan and even transboundary impacts. At the same time, the management, conservation, accessibility, and sustainability of Istanbul Heritage are framed as essential urban services, much like transportation, education, and healthcare.
In this context, VEP proposes a heritage-based spatial network to operationalize the concept of Istanbul Heritage. It identifies tools and steps for adapting theoretical approaches to cultural landscapes and complex socio-ecological networks into practical applications for local governance. The goal is to develop actionable strategies for implementing innovative conservation practices.
The Vision 2050 Action Plan is structured around the strategic action framework of "Istanbulites' Right to Cultural Heritage", guided by discussions on cultural heritage rights and rights-based conservation. Within this framework, specific actions have been identified to ensure inclusive participation in cultural heritage conservation, foster sustainable heritage governance, and facilitate access to and engagement with cultural heritage. Additionally, the multi-crisis-oriented structure of VEP has enabled Istanbul Heritage to be addressed through a more multi-scalar and intersectional approach.
Istanbul's current planning experience has gained distinctiveness within the field of heritage planning by bridging theoretical discussions, civil society demands, and expert knowledge with practical planning tools implemented by local governments. This paper aims to discuss and further develop the Istanbul Heritage planning approach, summarizing key focal points within this evolving planning framework.
References
İstanbul Planning Agency, 2022. İstanbul Vizyon 2050 Strateji Belgesi. İstanbul: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi.
İstanbul Planning Agency, 2024. İstanbul Vizyon 2050 Eylem Planı. İstanbul: İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi.
| Keywords | Urban policies; heritage planning; participatory planning; cultural heritage; spatial networks |
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