Istanbul is well-known with its silhouette of mosques and the Hagia Sophia. But in reality the historical part of Istanbul counts only 14 square km in approx. 5350 square km in the whole metropolitan area. The city is kind of exploding and the population has risen in the last 60 years more than 15 times. Trying to meet the necessities and interests of the population as well as of the global world is a great challenge to the city, planners and architects. Observing the development of Istanbul together with its rich historical heritage is a great excitement. But not only architecture and urban development, the art and design scene of Istanbul has developed tremendously and became internationally emancipated.
