All rights reservedJones, Zachary2024-01-152024-01-152015978-80-01-05782-7https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14235/1190Book of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Definite Space – Fuzzy Responsibility, Prague, 13-16th July, 2015Cities are increasingly turning to mega-events to secure much desired global recovery of future economic investment. While events such as the Olympics or Expos are generally of city centers, sometimes entirely divorced from the existing urban fabric, one embedded within the city itself: the European Capital of Culture. The ECoC is a consisting of cultural events typically situated within the city itself as well surrounding region. One of the longest running continuous EU policy programs, the operated for 30 years with over 50 cities holding the much-coveted title. How can utilize this mega-event for the greatest benefit to the city? This paper specifically focuses on Istanbul and its tenure as the 2010 Capital of the event’s use and conservation of the urban built heritage in connection with to the ECoC, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality organized the Strategic Plan as the Historic Peninsula Site Management Plan. Both documents largely ignore the possible integration into a long-term strategy for the city. This oversight reveals found between large-scale events and host cities. The paper investigates the root divisions, the negative outcomes of such a disconnected and short-sighted approach the opportunities for planning to integrate culture and complimentary economic ac commercialization and tourism.EnglishopenAccessconferenceObject2118-2128